the industry

Mindy Kaling and Friend to Tackle Self-Esteem Issues

Overtime: Mindy Kaling (The Office, Subtle Sexuality, your dreams) and fellow Office scribe Brent Forrester are teaming up to write The Low Self Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie for Mandate Pictures. Produced by the same group behind Juno, the romantic comedy will center on a woman whose lack of self-confidence has convinced her to only date losers. Then, unexpectedly, a complete stud begins pursuing her. But as studly as the stud is he can’t be as studly as Ryan Howard. [Variety]

Music Man: Brad Falchuk, the executive producer of Glee, has signed a seven-figure deal with 20th century Fox TV that will see him continue with the show and work on other projects. Falchuck will be tasked with developing new projects and may also direct other Fox pilots. “The tone of Glee is so specific, it takes delicate balance,†20th Century Fox TV chair Dana Walden said. “If you can direct Glee successfully, you can probably direct anything.†Like more musicals! [Variety]

Court Order: NBC has ordered a new legal drama based on the life of attorney Tom Goldstein. Barry Schindal wrote the pilot for Tommy Supreme, about a real-life lawyer who has argued 21 cases in front of the Supreme Court. The show is being described as a reverse House, or, “a likable guy in the most unlikable profession.†Speaking of likable guys, Antonin Scalia should totally play himself. [Variety]

You’ll See the Brains Flying Off the Screen!
: Sony is moving forward with plans to make a 3-D sequel to Zombieland. The studio has locked down producer Gavin Polone and director Ruben Fleisher and is in discussions with Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg to come back as zombie bashing bros. Hopefully they’re already working on setting up another excellent cameo. [Variety]

No More Games
: Keith Arem, who talent-directed the mega-selling video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, will make his film-directing debut with Frost Road. An action-thriller that Arem wrote, the story is about a small East Coast town that is invaded by a deadly disease. It will be hard for Arem to replicate the success of Call of Duty, which made $550 million the first five days it was out, unless he can figure out how to get theaters to charge $60 a ticket. [HR]

Mindy Kaling and Friend to Tackle Self-Esteem Issues