OK, hands up – who thought, going into Tropic Thunder, that the breakout comedy star would be the great Bill Hader? OK, who thought it would be the wonderful Danny McBride? How about Brandon T. Jackson, who played Alpa Chino?
Well, you were all wrong. Turns out the breakout star of Tropic Thunder (let’s assume for a second that the three stars – Stiller, Black and Downey Jr. had already broken out, shall we?) was the guy everybody overlooked going in – Jay Baruchel, who played Kevin Sandusky, the most normal member of the acting platoon.
For, since then, Baruchel has been in much demand. He’s about to start work soon on the big-budget Disney adventure, The Sorceror’s Apprentice, opposite Nic Cage, and today it was announced that he’ll be starring in his own comedy vehicle, Johnny Klutz.
Rob McKittrick, director of the Ryan Reynolds/Justin Long comedy, …Waiting, has been brought on board to script the movie, which will be produced by Ben Stiller and his Red Hour Films production company.
Baruchel, a 26 year-old Canadian who first came to prominence when he stole scenes in Knocked Up, created the character of Johnny Klutz, a loveable loser who’s impervious to pain, and pitched the concept of a Klutz movie to Universal.
McKittrick was one of several writers who had meetings about the movie, and Universal liked his story pitch enough to give him the gig. No word on who’s going to direct, but McKittrick is surely a frontrunner.
As for the movie itself, time will tell if it even gets made, but we’re quietly optimistic. Baruchel was one of the best things about Tropic Thunder, and clearly made waves with his turn there. We’re just a little worried that this concept and character feels a little similar to something Martin Short might have made in his **Pure Luck **phase, or maybe even - whisper it - a Rob Schneider Happy Madison flick. But then, you know what they say about judging a book by its cover...
Stuart Cornfeld and Jeremy Kramer will produce for Red Hour, along with Stiller.