Craig Zobel Not Legally Binded to ‘The Litigator’

An example of what one breakout indie film debut can do for a filmmaker, Craig Zobel who already has his hands full in next project options with Monster Safari, Turkey in the Straw, Gizmondo and Loudermilk, can now add a fifth potential project in the shape of a studio comedy that dates back to when Fox had the Fox Atomic youth label. THR reports that Zobel has become attached to direct The Litigator – and the trade mentions the lead could go to Danny McBride – which is a strong possibility since McBride’s buddy David Gordon Green produced Great World of Sound with Zobel. Michael Aguilar of Dos Tontos and Mark O’Connor are producing.

Written by Mike Arnold and Chris Poole, this centers on a slacker attorney working for his uncle’s prestigious law firm who finds himself in over his head when he’s asked to defend a man wrongfully accused of murder.

Here’s the history of the project described by THR. Arnold and Poole had originally set up at Fox Atomic as part of a blind script deal a few years ago. When Atomic was shuttered in April 2009, exec Debbie Liebling took “Litigator” to Fox proper, where new exec Lauren Levy is now overseeing its development.