The paths of Ben Stiller and writer/director Mike White (“School Of Rock,” “Enlightened“) have criss-crossed in the most curious of ways. The actor has made cameo appearances in “Orange County” and the “Freaks & Geeks” episode “The Little Things,” which both have writing credits by White (and were both directed by Jake Kasdan, incidentally) but nothing beyond that. However, both fell under Judd Apatow‘s early umbrella of talent, and the pair are now set to make their first full-blown project together.
READ MORE: Review: ‘Zoolander 2’ Starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penélope Cruz & Will Ferrell
Stiller will star in White’s “Brad’s Status,” which White will direct from his own script. The actor will play the titular character who, despite a good career and happy family, is obsessed with the better fortunes of his old friends from school. While escorting his son on an East Coast tour of colleges, Brad is forced to confront his friends and his feelings of failure.
The dramedy seems like a perfect fit for Stiller’s wheelhouse, and along with the a part in Noah Baumbach‘s recently wrapped “Yeh Din Ka Kissa,” it looks like he’s bouncing back nicely after the critical and commercial drubbing he took for “Zoolander 2” (which I thought was acceptably dumb and disposable, but I guess that’s just me).
“Brad’s Status” starts filming in September.