After hitting the stage to conduct a live show version of his hitRECord website (dedicated to open collaboration production with his users) at last month’s Sundance Film Festival, it looks like Joseph Gordon-Levitt is finally adding a very expected title to his already long string of occupations. Gordon-Levitt will make his feature directing debut with a still-untitled comedy that he has also penned. Moreover, he will also star in the film alongside Scarlett Johansson.
Deadline Brentwood reports that the film is “a sexy comedy about about a modern-day Don Juan, and his quest to become less of a ‘selfish dick.’” Gordon-Levitt is, of course, cast as that “selfish dick,” with Johansson grabbing one of two female lead roles. Gordon-Levitt also told the outlet that “his major motive for returning [to acting] was a burning desire to direct.” You don’t say! He went on to say, “I spent a year working with Chris Nolan, Rian Johnson, Steven Spielberg, and I did my best to pay attention. I’ve also been making short films for a long time now, I’ve directed a ton of them, and that is a huge part of why I feel comfortable and confident in this.” Well, he’s got a point there.
Gordon-Levitt’s schedule was certainly full enough before he added this new project to it ‐ he’s got The Dark Knight Rises, Premium Rush, Looper, and Lincoln coming out this year alone ‐ and Deadline actually had the forethought to ask him about his smallish role in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. He told the outlet, “it will be tricky schedule-wise, but I was honest with Quentin upfront.” While that’s not a firm commitment, it’s not a full rebuttal of his involvement.
The film will be financed by Nicolas Chartier’s Voltage Pictures (who will be selling international rights at the Berlinale), with producing duties going to Ram Bergman Productions and (duh) hitRECord Films.
The film doesn’t just sound like it’s moving along swiftly ‐ it is, with a planned start date of April 16.
