Jay Baruchel is doing terrific work in front of the camera right now leading the new FXX sitcom Man Seeking Woman, but it looks like the comedic actor wants to take his talents behind the lens. The How to Train Your Dragon alum aims to make his directorial debut, Random Acts of Violence, later this year.
Collider got word on the new project when speaking to the actor about his aforementioned FXX show. An adaptation of the comic created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, who also wrote the Jonah Hex comic, Random Acts of Violence is a film Baruchel has tried to get off the ground for over four years, but he believes he has the chance to make it later this year.
"My writing partner [Jesse Chabot] and I adapted a graphic novel Random Acts of Violence. We have our financing and our leads, so it looks like I might get to direct that this year as well," Baruchel told the website.
He notes that Jason Eisner, the filmmaker behind Hobo With a Shotgun, is editing it, while Bobby Shore — the man who shot Goon, a comedy Baruchel co-wrote, produced and starred in — is the movie's cinematographer. Additionally, and very excitingly, Baruchel revealed that Paul Jones, the make-up artist who does some fantastic work for Man Seeking Woman, is "going to be guilt trip(ped)" into working on this new movie. Composing the score, he notes, will be Matthew Good. This musician should not to be confused by actor Matthew Goode.
"It's just a really cool bunch of people," Baruchel remarked.
Baruchel describes the tone of the comic and upcoming film by saying it's "kind of a repurposing, a modern take on the slasher genre." He also notes it's "not un-meta."
"It’s very much about the nature of creativity, the cyclical nature of inspiration, murder as a form of creative expression, and also the wrong artistic journey of how someone can be swallowed whole by their own ideas," Baruchel continues. "It’s f**king crazy and I’m really really proud of it. It’s probably one of the best things we’ve written."
Random Acts of Violence centers on two comic book writers who create a sensational new horror character Slasherman who, when the writers are on the road, comes to life and levels a trails of bodies in their way. Baruchel noted in the past how he's been a fan of the horror genre for years, and — while primarily a comedic actor — he got to participate in some horror-esque moments in This is the End, a movie he not only starred in, but executive produced as well.
You can check out weekly recaps of Man Seeking Woman here. Baruchel, meanwhile, also stars in Cameron Crowe's upcoming, untitled Hawaii film, where he acts alongside Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Bill Murray, Alec Baldwin and Rachel McAdams. That comes to theaters on May 29.
Image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com