Ben Stiller visits Nigeria
Ben Stiller may be fathering little Fockers, and planning more nights at the museum, but he’s also planning to spend just as much time behind the camera. According to Variety, Stiller is set to put his his directorial duties to use on a new comedy called “Help Me Spread Goodness.”
“Goodness” is all about a Chicago banking man who falls for a Nigerian Internet scam. While the film will take a humorous angle, it won’t be as silly as Tracy Morgan’s scam story.
Instead, “Goodness” aims to shed light on the troubled political and economic situation in Nigeria that has led to such a prolific scamming industry. The film is being produced by Participant Media, a studio that mandates its films carry a message of social change and awareness.
The film may not be the next on Stiller’s slate, as he’s also attached to Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” It was rumored last fall that Stiller was going to replace Steven Spielberg, but the gig has apparently become official. But given how long “Chicago 7″ has been delayed (it was set to begin shooting last spring in order to be in theaters for the 2008 election), “Goodness” could beat it to the production punch. Given that Stiller hasn’t directed a drama yet, he may find “Goodness” a nice warm up to Sorkin’s politically charged script.
Readers, what do you think of Stiller as a director? Should he stick to comedy? Should he move cautiously into drama? Or do you prefer him in front of the camera?
