It’s been seven years since his last leading role, butBen Stillerreturns to acting in the upcoming comedyNutcrackers. Directed by David Gordon Green (Halloween Ends),Nutcrackersfollows a middle-aged workaholic who is forced to care for his four nephews after their parents die in a car accident. Stiller did not mean to take a break from starring in films the last few years, butNutcrackersoffered the perfect opportunity at just the right time.
In an interview withVariety, Ben Stiller discussed his return as a lead actor inNutcrackers, revealing his absence in front of the screen was not on purpose. When the industry was facing strikes,Nutcrackers, a wholly independent film, was allowed to get permission slips from unions to commence production. Principal photography took place in rural Ohio, where Stiller’s co-stars, four brothers named Homer, Ulysses, Arlo, and Atlas Janson, who are acting for the first time, lived on a farm along with a lot of animals. Due to the nature of the production, starring inNutcrackerswas the only thing Stiller could do at the time.
“I never thought I’d take this much time away from acting. It wasn’t intentional; it was just how things evolved. This movie happened in a zone where it was literally the only time I could have made it. A few months later, and I couldn’t have done it.”
Movies and TV Shows Directed by Ben Stiller
Most know Ben Stiller as an actor, but his directorial career is equally impressive, if not more so.
The imminent future sees Stiller working behind the scenes, primarily on the hit Apple TV+ showSeverance. However, he is currently set to star alongside Colin Farrell inBelly of the Beast, a true crime thriller by Andrew Haigh. Stiller could also return ina potentialTropic Thundersequel, in which he lends his talents to both sides of the screen as lead actor, writer, and director. However,Nutcrackerspresents a return not only to acting but also to a genre that suits him so well.
Nutcrackers Is a Change of Pace for Stiller & Green
WithNutcrackers, both Ben Stiller and David Gordon Green find themselves tackling a very different kind of project that veers from their recent output. Green, in particular, takes a break from high-profile horror after directing the latestHalloweentrilogy, which had a mountain of expectations for them. Now, he does something less strict and more comedic, even thoughNutcrackersdeals with tragedy. For Stiller,Nutcrackersis a return to basics, playinga reluctant parental figure that audiences can relate to and will probably fall in love with.
Ben Stiller’s 20 Best Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
Mostly known for the funny roles at the beginning of his career, Ben Stiller’s skills go beyond comedy. This is how Rotten Tomatoes ranks his best.
Nutcrackersis written by Leland Douglas, and thesupporting cast includes Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker, and Toby Huss. Check out the official synopsis below:
“Nutcrackers follows the work-obsessed Mike (Stiller), who must reluctantly travel to rural Ohio to look after his four rambunctious nephews after their parents die in a car accident. What begins as a three-day trip to find foster care turns into weeks of farm-life mayhem – and the realization that he doesn’t need to find them a home, they’ve found one for him.”
Nutcrackersdoes not have a release date as it is still seeking a distributor.
