Even while actor Chris Pine floats around space thanks to the production of helmer J.J. Abrams' “Star Trek 2,” it would look as if he’s lining up his next projects once he returns from the Enterprise deck. One option could be that he takes the role of the Tom Clancy-created character Jack Ryan for another spin at Paramount, which we’re not really sure we want to see, but it seems he could take an altogether more promising route that offers him work both in front of, and for the first time, behind the camera.
Deadline has word that Pine is serving as both co-writer and star of the independent comedy “Mantivities” for the Waterstone Entertainment banner, with a script by Pine and a literal army of his bros, including Will Greenberg, Drew Howerton, Robert Baker, Ian Gotler and Tony Liebetrau. “Reno 911” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous” helmer Michael Patrick Jann is attached to direct this tale of a group of friends experiencing severe arrested development in their early 30s, with the group banding together to help one of them grow up, presumably through a series of testosterone-heavy activities. It's treading upon Judd Apatow territory for sure, but a part of Pine’s charm has always been his pleasant comedic timing, so perhaps this opportunity to do a full-blown comedy could be worthwhile.
Paramount has had Pine pegged as a leading man in their gestating Jack Ryan reboot “Moscow” since the release of the first “Star Trek” in 2009, but while that film works out its various production difficulties, he’s already proven he could hold his own alongside the powerhouse presence of Denzel Washington in 2010’s “Unstoppable” and now he’s even tackling the more serious-minded “People Like Us” from “Star Trek” and “Transformers” co-writer Alex Kurtzman.
It’s going to be a steady couple of years for Pine, with “Star Trek 2” finishing up shortly, and promotional duties on “People Like Us” sure to begin soon, so we hope “Mantivities” can find some time to squeak in somewhere, if only to see one of Hollywood’s most promising recent talents goof around with his buddies.