Director Noah Baumbach is in negotiations to helm an adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’s 1938 book, MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS with Ben Stiller attached to star, reports VARIETY [1]. This will reteam the directing and acting duo whose GREENBERG released this past weekend, as well as add Baumbach to the ranks of hip indie directors who have delves into kids material such as Wes Anderson with FANTASTIC MR. FOX and Spike Jonze with WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.
John Davis is producing via his Davis Ent. for 20th Century Fox.
Adapted by Sean Anders and John Morris, the story follows Mr. Popper the house painter who becomes pen pals with Arctic explorers, who send him a penguin, which he keeps in the fridge. Later he adopts a female penguin and soon he has a dozen little ones to deal with, which he puts in a travelling stage show.
Links:
[1] http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017164.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562