Once More En Français: Steve Carell has attached himself to Media Rights’ The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard, a period comedy about a French soldier during the Napoleonic wars who thinks he’s much braver than he really is. King of the Hill’s John Altshuler and David Krinsky adapted the script to highlight “the clueless-man comedy practiced by Carell,†using for their source material several stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, an author best known for his oh-so-hilarious stories. “Why, it’s comedy, my dear Watson!†[HR]
The Plane! The Movie!: Mandate and Steve Zaillian (American Gangster) are producing a biopic on Fantasy Island’s Herve Villechaize, called My Dinner With Herve, based on journalist Sacha Gervasi’s final interview with him mere days before the actor committed suicide. Gervasi, who’s penning the script, stresses that “Herve wasn’t just a pop culture icon; he was one of the most charming, cultured and dangerous people I’ve ever met.†Also, the smallest? [Variety]
Grey Days for Soderbergh: Much to producer Mark Cuban’s chagrin/delight, Steven Soderbergh has cast porn star Sasha Grey as the lead in The Girlfriend Experience. The New York–set drama, penned by Ocean’s Thirteen’s Brian Koppelman and David Levien, follows the life of a high-priced call girl. “To have the opportunity to work for an Academy Award–winning auteur is truly a great honor,†said Grey, presumably between takes. [Variety]
Arnett Comes Home: Fox has signed a development deal with Will Arnett, hoping to develop a sitcom with the Emmy-nominated Arrested Development alum. Deal is pegged in the seven-figure range, but Arnett might rather have … a billion pennies! [Variety]
Kelley Makes TV Show: David E. Kelley will try his hand at television, as NBC gives him a series commitment for a new legal drama whose premise is this: What if a father and daughter were both lawyers? Good question, second only to “What if David E. Kelley stopped making the same show over and over?†[Variety]
Inglesby Sleeps Late: Brad Inglesby will adapt Sleeper for Warner Bros., the DC Comic that Tom Cruise has “shown interest†in, produced by Sam Raimi. Comic puts superheroes in a “stylish, hard-boiled crime saga not unlike The Departed.†Inglesby’s previous credits include “hanging out in his apartment hoping for a writing job,†so we wish him the best of luck. [HR]