With a bit of kerfuffle already surrounding even the possibility of a Bridesmaids sequel, and his recent dropping of Bridget Jones 3, comedy director Paul Feig has signed on for what will be his first post-Bridesmaids feature. Feig will next direct The Better Woman, a comedy being set up at Universal (Bridesmaids’ home) that has been penned by Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino (from an idea by Ron Bass and Jen Smolka). The attachment of both Feig and Sherman-Palladino gets me excited for a film that sounds somewhat basic, as both of them are original talents who have a real knack for elevating material (legions of Gilmore Girls fans can certainly speak to that for Sherman-Palladino, and Feig’s turn with Bridesmaids catapulted the industry veteran into the limelight).
The Better Woman “follows a high-powered young executive who is dumped by her boyfriend for an older woman. She befriends the woman to discover why her boyfriend chose her, and rediscovers herself in the process.” At one point, Reese Witherspoon was attached to the project, but is apparently no longer involved, but that does give us an idea of the sort of plucky young lady the film might be looking at for the lead role.
Interestingly, The Better Woman will be Sherman-Palladino’s first shot at a film screenplay, as her resume is rounded out with lots of other television beyond just Gilmore Girls, including work on Roseanne and Veronica’s Closet. She’s currently working on a new show, Bunheads, that has been picked up by ABC Family.
Feig also cut his teeth with TV, most famously creating Freaks and Geeks, along with directing gigs for The Office, Parks and Recreation, Mad Men, and Nurse Jackie. In terms of feature work, he’s reportedly also developing something for Bridesmaids stand-out Melissa McCarthy. But, for me, he will always be Stanley with the supersweet moves from Ski Patrol: