Ben Stiller Takes the Lead in ‘Nutcrackers,’ Directed by David Gordon Green

Emmy-winning actor Ben Stiller is making a comeback to lead film roles after six years with ‘Nutcrackers,’ a new project directed by David Gordon Green, currently in production in Ohio. Stiller is not only starring in the film but is also producing it under his Red Hour Films banner. The production team includes Rob Paris and Mike Witherill from Rivulet, John Lesher representing Red Hour, and Nate Meyer from Rough House. 

Rivulet is financing the film, and North American rights are being represented by UTA Independent. This announcement about Stiller’s new film comes amid changes at Red Hour, with EVP Richie Schwartz departing the company. Over the past year and a half, Stiller has been co-running Red Hour with former UTA partner and Paramount chief John Lesher.

Lesher, who has been involved in film and TV oversight, has a longstanding relationship with Stiller spanning more than 25 years. Before ‘Nutcrackers,’ Lesher worked as a producer on Michael Mann’s passion project ‘Ferrari,’ set to release in theatres on Christmas day.

Penned by Leland Douglas (known for Call of the Wild) and developed by Rough House, ‘Nutcrackers’ tells the story of Mike (played by Stiller), a work-focused individual who reluctantly travels to rural Ohio to care for his four lively nephews after their parents die in a car accident. Initially, it’s a three-day journey to find foster care, but it turns into weeks of chaotic farm life. Along the way, Mike realizes that he doesn’t need to find them a home; they’ve already found one with him.

Ben Stiller, who has focused on directing and producing in recent years, directed and executive produced the first season of Apple TV+’s ‘Severance’, a praised workplace thriller that garnered two Emmys from 14 nominations, a Peabody, two WGA Awards, and other accolades. Before ‘Severance’ Stiller directed all seven parts of ‘Escape at Dannemora’, winning a DGA Award for the Showtime limited series.

While making brief appearances in recent films like ‘Bros and Hubie Halloween’, Stiller’s last lead roles were in Mike White’s ‘Brad’s Status’ and Noah Baumbach’s Netflix family drama ‘The Meyerowitz Stories’, both released in 2017. Currently helming a new trilogy of ‘Exorcist’ films for Uni & Blumhouse, including October’s ‘Believer’, Green previously directed a trilogy of Halloween films, concluding with ‘Halloween Ends’ in 2022. He also serves as a director and executive producer on Danny McBride’s HBO comedy series, ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, which completed its third season over the summer and has been renewed for a fourth.

Ben Stiller is represented by UTA and Gang, Tyre, and Ramer, while David Gordon Green is represented by CAA and Cinetic Media.

– Farheen Ali