You may have noticed that, when it comes to telling the world about its recently acquired comedy scripts, Universal is about as forthcoming as a Trappist monk under a vow of silence with a gag over his mouth. But they have given away a few details of the latest, tentatively titled I, Thalus, so let's enjoy it while we can.
The film is a period comedy set during the very first Olympic Games. That, fact fans, was (probably - historians like to disagree) in 776BC, which was a Very Long Time Ago. Legend has it that King Ifitos of Elis (you know, old bloke, beard) was told by the Oracle at Delphi to institute the Games to give the warring Greeks a break once every four years. Fighting in all Greek wars stopped from 12 days before until 12 days after the Games, to give everyone time to get there and back, even in case of traffic jams. Now don't say we never tell you anything.
Plot details otherwise are being kept under wraps, but we're going to go back out on a limb and say that it involves a bloke called Thalus, who's probably gets into all sorts of amusing scrapes.
The script was written by Craig and Jeff Cox, who broke into the industry with a script they wrote in Starbucks called Blades of Glory, that is now a Will Ferrell starring film. Director Peter Segal (50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, Anger Management) is set to direct, and with that filmography don't be surprised if Thalus looks a lot like Adam Sandler.
Ancient Greek athletes, huh? Did you know that, for most of the Games, they did their events in the buff? How can we possibly find a picture for this story? Hang on - got it! And check this link for more information on ancient Greek calisthenics.