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Ben Stiller Now Also Directing 'Secret Life of Walter Mitty' Adaptation

by Ethan Anderton
July 20, 2011
Source: Twitch

Though the project has been gestating for over a decade, the last we heard on the new adaptation of James Thurber's classic short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty had Ben Stiller in talks to take the title role in the film. A new script from The Pursuit of Happyness writer Steve Conrad apparently caught Stiller's attention, but a director was still being sought to take on the project. Well, now Twitch reports in addition to starring in the film, Stiller will now sit in the director's chair as well. This comes after filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and most recently Gore Verbinski had previously been mentioned as potential directors.

Though more recently Stiller has been making bank with sequels in both the Meet the Parents and Night at the Museum franchises, his last film as both a star and director came in the form of Tropic Thunder, one of my favorite comedies in the past five years. In addition, Stiller also delivered Zoolander in the late 90's and the dark comedy The Cable Guy in Jim Carrey's prime. Stiller just might be what the doctor ordered for this long-developing project, but I'm still waiting to hear what Conrad's take on the story will be. Right now the plan is to have Stiller tackle the project in January of 2012 after completing production on Neighborhood Watch from director Akiva Shaffer, so hopefully we'll hear story details and more casting soon.

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