Jeez … talk about a reversal of fortune. One minute Josh Hutcherson is the front-runner to be the new Peter Parker in Sony's "Spider-Man" reboot (check out his bad-ass audition tape at Latino Review) and the next he's starring in an indie movie opposite Dane Cook.
"The Kids Are All Right" teen has signed on to star opposite the Boston-born comic in the horror-comedy "Detention," Hutcherson's representation at ICM has confirmed to TheWrap.
The film follows a group of teens who struggle to survive their senior year of high school when a slasher-movie killer seemingly comes to life.
Music video veteran Joseph Kahn (Eminem's "Without Me") will direct from a script he co-wrote with Mark Palermo.
All kidding aside, while "Detention" is certainly a lower-profile project than "Spider-Man," I'm actually a huge fan of both Hutcherson and Cook, and though the logline sounds a tad generic, I welcome any and all horror-comedy hybrids as one who worships the "Scream" franchise, which set the bar for that entertaining subgenre.
Hutcherson is a young star on the rise who has a bright future ahead of him, so the "Detention" script must really be something, as ICM wouldn't risk watering down Hutcherson's brand with a run-of-the-mill slasher flick … I hope.
Hutcherson will make his debut as an executive producer on the $10 million project, which Kahn will produce with Richard Weager, Maryann Tanedo and David Kang. Bob Abramoff will also exec produce.
Production begins next month in L.A. before Hutcherson segues to New Line's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" sequel in October.
Kahn previously directed "Torque" for Warner Bros. He is represented by ICM, while CAA represents Cook, who next stars opposite Gary Oldman and Christian Slater in "Guns, Girls and Gambling."
