So, where do we start with “Big Eyes“? Well, let’s go with a brief history lesson. Developing for at least six years if not longer, the project comes from Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (“Ed Wood,” “The People Vs. Larry Flynt,” “Man On The Moon“) and with two big lead roles, over the years Thomas Haden Church and Kate Hudson became attached, and in 2012 Ryan Reynolds and Reese Witherspoon were linked, with Tim Burton slated to produce the effort that would serve as the screenwriters’ directorial debut. But it looks Burton is going to take it all for himself with a pretty killer leading duo.
Deadline reports that Burton will direct the movie, that is now set up at The Weinstein Company, in what looks like a welcome 180 for the helmer, and something that’s much more of a small scale domestic drama. The film will tell the true story of married couple Walter and Margaret Keane, who became art world phenomenons in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to their paintings of large-eyed children. However, when they split up, a legal battle ensued, with Walter trying to take credit for paintings which were actually done by his wife. But when it came to a showdown in count, where they actually faced off canvas vs. canvas, Margaret emerged victorious while Walter tried to feign a pain in his arm.
There’s no word yet if this will indeed be next Burton — he’s got a few options — but this kind of casting doesn’t come along everyday, we presume this is on the front cooker for the filmmaker. It has been awhile since we’ve had something to truly be excited about from Burton, but this looks like something that could be genuinely challenging and take him far away from his usual wheelhouse of tropes and tricks. So, fingers crossed.