Before 2011’s Bridesmaids made Paul Feig one of Hollywood’s most in-demand comedy directors, he largely focused his talents on TV, having directed several episodes of such shows as Arrested Development, Nurse Jackie and Weeds; now, according to Variety, Feig may be reteaming with an actress from his TV days for his next project.
The outlet claims that Feig is in serious talks to direct The Office and The Mindy Project actress Mindy Kaling in “an untitled comedy set in the world of late-night talk shows” for Fox 2000. Kaling penned the script for the project, which revolves around a talk show host who jeopardizes her job when she employs her first female writer (Kaling). Apparently, the film can best be described as a cross between The Devil Wears Prada and Broadcast News.
Feig helmed a total of 19 episodes during the nine-season-long run of NBC’s The Office, on which Kaling played the dim-witted and overly dramatic Kelly Kapoor. For his work on the show, Feig earned two Emmy nominations.
If the deal goes through, the film will be Feig’s fifth female-led comedy in a row, following the aforementioned Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy and Ghostbusters. Not to mention, all of the previously mentioned comedies earned, at the very least, mostly positive reviews from critics and cracked the $100 million mark at the box office. Truly, there are very few comedy directors working today as successful as Feig.
This will be Feig’s first feature-length movie in about a decade to not star either Kristen Wiig or Melissa McCarthy, unless, of course, either of them joins the project between now and when it goes into production. Currently, the only other actress attached is Oscar nominee Emma Thompson, who surprisingly has a long history of giving great performances in comedies, from Nanny McPhee to Men in Black 3.
Kaling’s schedule will be stacked over the next few years, as she delivers turns in a number of high-profile projects, include the all-female Ocean’s Eleven remake, Ocean’s Eight, and Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle in Time.
Feig and his partner Jessie Henderson will look to produce the film alongside Kaling, Howard Klein and Scott Rudin.
Originally published November 4, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
