Steve Carell Goes Crazy For Lunatics: But when?

Dave Barry fans have reason to rejoice. Not only is the novel he co-wrote with former SNL writer, Alan Zweibel, Lunatics, coming out January 10, 2012, it's already been picked up by Universal. Better still, he and Zweibel will pen the script. That has to put Barry, Zweibel and millions of fans at ease! And more good news, imho, Steve Carell is attached to star! 40 Year Old Virgin. Little Miss Sunshine. Dinner for Schmucks. Date Night.  I like most everything the man has done; well maybe not Get Smart. But usually he makes me laugh and get choked up a little too. He'll also produce under his Carousel banner. I can't imagine when this will all come together, Carell's dance card is really full with seven films in various stages of filming, pre and post production.  Next out of the gate is Seeking a Friend for the End of the World with Keira Knightly; no release date yet but sometime next year. Carell was wonderful in this summer's Crazy, Stupid Love but especially so in the scenes he shared with Ryan Gosling. The bro chemistry was fantastic so I think a sort of buddy movie is just right for the former manager of Dunder Mifflin.

Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell in Crazy, Stupid Love

 Judging from the official synopsis of the book, another good bromance could be the thread tying this crazy story line together :

Philip Horkman is a happy man-the owner of a pet store called The Wine Shop, and on Sundays a referee for kids' soccer. Jeffrey Peckerman is the sole sane person in a world filled with goddamned jerks and morons, and he's having a really bad day. The two of them are about to collide in a swiftly escalating series of events that will send them running for their lives, pursued by the police, soldiers, terrorists, subversives, bears, and a man dressed as Chuck E. Cheese.

Carell will play Horkman; way too early to know who will play Peckerman. Great names, eh? Maybe if he and Jim Carrey REALLY hit it off in Burt Wonderstone, Steve will ask Jim to join him on this one but I don't suppose that's very likely. Steve Martin is probably too old. What do you think? Any ideas? Or should we at least read the book first?!

source: deadlinehollywood.com

UPDATE: November 2017 ... Still in development.