Ben Stiller is currently in talks about taking a starring role in Alan Ball’s I AM CHIPPENDALES.
The film focuses on the story of how the famous male exotic dancers started after Paul Snider and Somen “Steve” Banerjee expanded the Chippendales nightclub. It’s a story which has potential for both the glitzy highs of bouffant hair and the seedy lows – Banerjee was found hanging dead in his cell after being jailed for attempted arson, racketeering and murder for hire. This true life scandal has already been explored in made for TV movie THE CHIPPENDALES MURDERS, with Lost actor Naveen Andrews playing Banerjee.
If everything works out for Stiller, he’ll play choreographer Nick de Noia, who helped the troupe go supernova – and later fell victim to Banerjee. Alan Ball is writing the script which is based on Rodney Sheldon’s book. Ball’s script writing credentials include AMERICAN BEAUTY and True Blood. He will also produce and direct the project.
Stiller recently starred in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY and is soon to appear in WHILE WE’RE YOUNG with Naomi Watts. This new project from Ball, with its sleazy underbelly beneath the um…glamour, sounds like it has potential – perhaps a bit BOOGIE NIGHTS. And there I was thinking the Chippendales were all just perma-tan, white teeth and muscles.
Source: Variety
