Owen Wilson: soldier of misfortune

He might have the number one film in America this week, but it’s only his tonsils doing the work – and he has a little bit of help from the fine folk at Pixar.

But Owen Wilson's not stupid – he’s signing back up with lesser members of the comedy mafia for a new laugh-fest. Drillbit Taylor follows two new high schoolers that are bullied on the very first day they arrive. Plotting revenge, they hire a man they think is a low-rent soldier of fortune (Wilson), who turns out to be more of a zero than a hero.

It’s got quite a pedigree – The 40-Year-Old Virgin director/writer Judd Apatow is producing, and the script – by Virgin’s Seth Rogen and former Friends staff-writer Chris Brown – is based on a treatment penned by no lesser comedy god than John Hughes.

Steven Brill, who last brought us Without A Paddle, is in talks to direct. If he signs, he’ll start work in September so the movie can be released next summer.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine. 

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