Russell Brand has a thing for spirits. And no, not the kind he used to have a thing for... We mean ghosts. After his unsuccessful attempt to resurrect Rentaghost (which since moved on to waft around Ben Stiller), he’s now switched to a new spooky project, jumping aboard The Hauntrepreneur for Paramount.
If this one makes it to the screen with Brand still attached, he’ll play the titular weirdo, who helps a family adjust to a new town (and settle their differences) by creating a haunted house filled with unusual characters. Sounds a little like **Beetlejuice **crossed with Willy Wonka.
Con Ai****r / High Fidelity scribe Scott Rosenberg, who last dabbled in out-and-out comedy with (shudder) Kangaroo Jack, sold the idea to the studio as a spec script in October. Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes team, which usually specialises in pure horror, is on board to help shepherd it.
Hauntrepreneur is now scouring the streets of Hollywood and beyond, looking for a director.
Brand, meanwhile, will next crop up in Rock Of Ages and has been setting up a new series on US cable channel FX. He’ll also co-star in Diablo Cody’s as-yet-untitled directorial debut, which will see him appear alongside Octavia Spencer and Julianne Hough.