Levy is ‘Back,’ But With Mandate

Shawn Levy has lined up another project, but you won’t be seeing any romping dinosaur skeletons or mischievous monkeys in this pic.  According to THR, the helmer, most notably of Night at the Museum fame, will be producing the coming-of-age dramedy The Way Back for Manadate Pictures.  Levy was originally attached also as director when the project was being handled by Fox Searchlight.  There is currently no one fixed to direct the pic.

The script for ‘Back’ was snatched up by Fox Searchlight soon after it was placed within the top ten on the 2007 Black List, an annual list of yet-to-be picked up favorites compiled by 150 film executives and distributed throughout the movie business.   The pic, based on the script by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, revolves around a teenage boy who befriends the operator of a water park, who in turn helps him reconnect with his mother and confront his abusive stepfather.

‘Back’ is tentatively set for release next year.

With Levy’s schedule filling up, it’s no surprise he’s taken a relative back seat on this one, opting out of directing. Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian will release in May 2009, seeing the return of Ben Stiller and the addition of Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Bill Hader and Hank Azaria.   Levy’s Hardy Men, currently in pre-production, should be an interesting one- it’s an updated version of “The Hardy Boys” reportedly starring Tom Cruise and Stiller.  Levy is also producing Peter Cattaneo’s comedy The Rocker, out next month, and exec producing Pink Panther 2, out in February.