Ben Stiller May Direct Unfunny Movie on Purpose

Thinking outside the box is not a new concept in Hollywood. I mean, this is the town that said, "I know! Talking, dancing Chihuahuas!" and then actually made a bunch of money. So, it may come as little surprise that they're doing the same thing with The Trial of the Chicago 7, an upcoming DreamWorks project about the 1968 riots at the Democratic convention and the events that followed. And by "same thing" I don't mean talking, dancing Chihuahuas. Praise be. Written by Aaron Sorkin, the political drama has had a few directors who've come in for talks about attaching themselves to the film, including Steven Spielberg, Paul Greengrass, and Ben Stiller. No, you totally read that right. Stiller is the latest in a line of helmers that have been in discussions to work on the film, even though this project is decidedly different in tone from the rest of the director's oeuvre. Not that a guy can't change direction or want to work on something a little bit different, but it seems an interesting choice.

Though the choice seems a little more savvy when you look at the financing. Now that DreamWorks is separating with Paramount, it has struck a financing deal with Reliance and wants to take Stiller's production company Red Hour Films with it. Throwing the director a juicy Sorkin-penned bone may be the best way of insuring that, and maybe not quite the "I know! Talking Chihuahuas!" moment it initially seemed to be. That said, as DreamWorks wants to start production on the film quickly, any talks they're currently having are bound to be serious ones, and Stiller just might get the job. And while Stiller and Sorkin are not exactly two names I ever expected to see in the opening credits of a film, I'd be curious enough to fork over $12 to see it happen. The same will never, ever be said for talking Chihuahuas.

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