Darko Entertainment, Aggregate Films and MXN Entertainment announced today production commences this week on the dark comedy, Bad Words, which marks the directorial debut of Jason Bateman.
Bateman will also headline the film, starring opposite Allison Janney (The Help, Juno), Kathryn Hahn (Our Idiot Brother, How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days), Ben Falcone (Bridesmaids, What to Expect When You’re Expecting), Philip Baker Hall (Argo, Magnolia), and Rohan Chandz (Jack and Jill).
In the film, the old adage, Where theres a will, theres a way, is taken to new heights when 41-year-old high school drop out Guy Trilby (Bateman) discovers a loophole that allows him to enter The National Quill Spelling Bee. Designed for 8th Grade children or below, Guys entry draws vehement protest and outrage of parents and the organizations director Dr. Bernice Deagan (Janney). Despite having no formal education, Guy quickly advances to the nationals where he meets contestant hopeful Chaitanya (Chandz), a completely awkward young boy who is unfazed by Guys brash and ill-mannered ways.
As the competition weekend progresses, Guy teaches Chaitanya some dark comedic life lessons and the pair begin to form an unlikely friendship, which doesnt go unnoticed by Jenny (Hahn), a reporter who has agreed to fund Guys competition and travel expenses in exchange for his exclusive story. With a long list of detractors and distractions that threaten to derail Guy from the competition, he must find a way to stay focused on his true mission and compete for what he so badly wants to win.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Ken Seng (Project X, Obsessed) as well as production designer Shepherd Frankel (Identity Thief, Horrible Bosses), costume designer April Napier (Julia, The Cell) and editor Tatiana Riegel (Fright Night, The Men Who Stare at Goats).
Bad Words will shoot entirely on location in Los Angeles.
Darko Entertainment is financing the film, which is produced by Aggregate Films Jason Bateman, MXNs Mason Novick (Juno), and Darko Entertainments Sean McKittrick and Jeff Culotta. Executive Producers are Darkos Ted Hamm, Aggregate Films Jim Garavente and Darren Demetre with Gary Marcus serving as co-producer. The original screenplay written by Andrew Dodge made the coveted The Black List in 2011.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Tanner / WENN.com)
