Steve Carell has signed on to star in "Dogs of Babel," the Mandate Pictures adaptation of the Carolyn Parkhurst's best-selling novel.
Carell will play Paul Iverson, a linguistics professor, who returns home one day to find his wife dead in their backyard. Police rule her death an accident, but Paul is not quite sure.
The only witness to her death is their dog Lorelei. In Paul's grief-stricken search for answers, he endeavors to teach Lorelei to talk in the hopes that he can uncover what happened the day his wife died.
Writer Jamie Linden ("Dear John," "We Are Marshall") adapted the novel into a screenplay.
Mandate president Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Vance DeGeneres and Charlie Hartsock who work with Carell at Carousel will co-produce. New president of Heyday Films Jeffrey Clifford will be running the project for Heyday and Nicole Brown will oversee the project on behalf of Mandate.
Carell, who is winding down his TV gig on NBC's "The Office," will next be seen in the Warner rom-com "Crazy, Stupid, Love," which is due out July 29. He's also in pre-production on New Line's "Burt Wonderstone."
Here's the full Mandate announcement:
STEVE CARELL SET TO STAR IN MANDATE PICTURES’ ‘DOGS OF BABEL’
Los Angeles (February 22, 2011) – Steve Carell is attached to star in Mandate Pictures’ DOGS OF BABEL. Writer Jamie Linden (Ten Year, Dear John, We Are Marshall) adapted the best-selling novel for the big screen. David Heyman of Heyday Films, Corey May and Dooma Wendschuh of sekretagent Productions, and Steve Carell of Carousel Productions will produce.
Mandate president Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Vance DeGeneres and Charlie Hartsock who work with Carell at Carousel will co-produce. New president of Heyday Films Jeffrey Clifford will be running the project for Heyday and Nicole Brown will oversee the project on behalf of Mandate.
Plans are to engage a director right away. Lionsgate International is handling international sales on this title. Carolyn Parkhurst’s novel, The Dogs of Babel, is a tragic yet beautiful story of love and loss. The story follows Paul Iverson, a linguistics professor, who returns home one day to find his wife dead in their backyard. Police rule her death an accident, but Paul is not quite sure. The only witness to her death is their dog Lorelei. In Paul's grief-stricken search for answers, he endeavors to teach Lorelei to talk in the hopes that he can uncover what happened the day his wife died.
Kahane shares, “DOGS OF BABEL is a passion project for the producers and our company. We have really taken our time to find the right hero for this story. Not only did we get the best actor for the part, but we got ourselves a gifted and invested producing partner.”
Heyman adds, “Steve is one of those rare talents who can make you laugh uncontrollably and at the same time evoke real emotion. We can’t wait to see how he brings the role to life.”
May and Wendschuh express that "From the first time we read Carolyn's manuscript, we couldn't wait for the opportunity to bring DOGS OF BABEL to the big screen. We are thrilled to now be working with Steve, who shares our passion for the story."
Steve Carell is managed by Steve Sauer at Media Four and Michelle Bohan at William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment. Dan Freedman, Mandate’s SVP of business affairs, negotiated the deals for Mandate.
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