Prepare to salivate, comedy fans, because Paul Feig – the director of some of the funniest films of recent years – is considering taking the helm of a movie that’s scripted by Mindy Kaling and has Emma Thompson attached to share the screen with the writer. To say that this is exciting news is an understatement.
The project is as-yet untitled, but is said to unfold within the very specific world of late-night talk shows – being described as “The Devil Wears Prada meets Broadcast News.” The fact that the screenplay comes from Mindy Kaling is significant because – apart from the fact that she is an exceptional, Emmy nominated writer, with The Office and The Mindy Project on her resume – she was also an intern on Late Night With Conan O’Brien in the late 1990s. Such an experience will undoubtedly have informed her take on that environment, which will be on full, comedic display here.
Then, there is Emma Thompson – the beloved, accomplished, award-winning actress of comedy and drama, who is an Oscar-winning writer herself. She took home the gold statuette for her witty, 1995 adaptation of Sense And Sensibility, while her most recent screenplay was the excellent Bridget Jones’s Baby. Bringing a talent of the stature of Emma Thompson together with the superb Mindy Kaling is a promise of something very special indeed – and Paul Feig would be the perfect person to call the shots.
The past five years has seen Paul Feig – previously best known for his work in television comedy, with Freaks And Geeks, Arrested Development, and The Office as particular highlights – deliver critical and commercial success every time he has released a movie. Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, and Ghostbusters have all demonstrated the fact that Feig works best with strong female characters and brilliant writing. Needless to say, we are on the edge of our seats waiting for this deal to be made – so that another Paul Feig movie can be added to the ‘highly anticipated in 2017’ list of films to look out for.