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Ed Helms Has Been Pitching a Civil War Time Travel Comedy?!

June 9, 2009
Source: A.V. Club
by Alex Billington

Ed Helms

Awesome! Ed Helms, who starred in The Hangover as Stu Price, is a beloved comedic actor probably best known for being a correspondent on "The Daily Show" and appearing as Andy Bernard in "The Office". He's on the verge of becoming a very mainstream actor and I think The Hangover may be what he needed. But speaking of Ed Helms, the actor told the A.V. Club (via The Playlist) in an interview recently about an idea he's been pitching through Steve Carell's company Carousel Productions. "It's sort of a big, Back to the Future kind of comedy about Civil War reenactors who are sent back to the actual Civil War." Hell yes!

Helms says he pitched the movie to Warner Brothers recently but didn't say if it got picked up. However, what he adds next makes me think that they did pick it up. "That's basically the rest of my summer, I'm going to be writing that with my writing partner. And it's such a fun project. I'm really excited about it. Steve is behind it, which is really fun." It does sound really fun and I love that concept - it's a perfect pitch. Maybe with Hot Tub Time Machine gaining so much early buzz, WB thought it was the right time to explore time travel comedies? Then again, their last time travel movie (Terminator Salvation) didn't do so well.

Whatever the case, this is something I'm already looking forward to, even though it seems like its a ways out. Ed Helms is a hilarious guy and that pitch really is awesome. I've been looking forward to the day when more insane time travel movies similar to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure would be making their triumphant return. With Hot Tub Time Machine and this, it sounds like they might be on their way back!

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Reader Feedback - 13 Comments »

1

i can already picture this is in my head and i love it!

erik on Jun 9, 2009

2

sounds great, and finally somethin somewhat original(besides the time travel part)

harrison on Jun 9, 2009

3

http://timetraveler.ytmnd.com/ and http://content.ytmnd.com/content/b/d/7/bd7c8c27aebc0512535dca8f7554cea4.jpg

Yep.

dallegre on Jun 9, 2009

4

I'm sorry, did you say Terminator Salvation was a time travel movie? I have lost hope.

Movieraider321 on Jun 9, 2009

5

Ha, #4, I meant in a "franchise" sort of way, not that Salvation itself had any time travel, but in its inception (Terminator 1 & 2) it was a movie that involved some time travel.

Alex Billington on Jun 9, 2009

6

Three Amigos anyone?

sedna on Jun 9, 2009

7

Seems like it would be too high-budget a concept for such a low-brow movie. You'd have to create the Civil War.

At least Bill & Ted had some minimal set pieces, even in the period scenes.

Greedo the Rodian on Jun 9, 2009

8

Seems like it would be too high-budget a concept for such a low-brow movie. You'd have to create the Civil War.

At least Bill & Ted had some minimal set pieces, even in the period scenes.

BTW, Ed Helms should play McLovin's dad in a movie.

Maybe a "Big"-like movie with the two of them.

Greedo the Rodian on Jun 9, 2009

9

I thought it was your job to stay up to date on movie news? This project was announced in February.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000591.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=ed+helms

Tom on Jun 9, 2009

10

The set doesn't necessarily have to be grand in scale. Look at Robin Hood Men In Tights, rather than a large army for either Robin Hood or Prince John there was just a dozen or so guys dressed up.

Chris H on Jun 9, 2009

11

#6 — Maybe when they travel back in time to the Civil War they'll bring a "plethora" of sweaters.

Travis on Jun 10, 2009

12

thanks for clarifying alex.

Movieraider321 on Jun 10, 2009

13

I am becoming a quiet fan of this actor's work. I watched The Hangover which inspired me and few friends of mine to go to Vegas.

Hsa on Oct 1, 2009

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