Once a member of the comedy actors group the Frat Pack, actor and comedian Ben Stiller is the son of two of the greatest American comics Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Besides acting, Ben Stiller is well-known for directing movies like Jim Carrey’s The Cable Guy and Robert Downey Jr.’s Tropic Thunder.
In 2001, Stiller starred in and directed the movie, Zoolander, a critical and commercial hit. A sequel to the movie named Zoolander 2 was released in 2016, but it turned out to be a box office flop and received negative reviews from critics.
Since then, Stiller has not directed any movies. However, an industry insider’s recent claims suggest that this is about to change as The Meyerowitz Stories actor seems to be planning a comeback.
Ben Stiller Will Be Reportedly Putting on the Director’s Hat for a Crime Drama
Ben Stiller is one of the most popular comic actors in the Hollywood entertainment industry. He has worked with actors like Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson, and Steve Carrell on numerous movies. He worked with Wilson in a total of 12 movies.
Stiller has appeared in guest roles in several shows such as FRIENDS and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Not to mention his eponymous variety sketch comedy series. He made his directorial debut in 1992 with the movie Reality Bites. According to TheInSneider, he is about to get on the chair once more for Amazon/MGM’s crime drama named The Seven Five.
Reportedly, Stiller’s The Seven Five will star The Bear star Jeremy Allen White in the lead role. White has gained quite a huge fan following recently, thanks to his performance in the FX series and the biographical sports drama The Iron Claw, in which he stars as late professional wrestler Kerry Von Erich.
Tony McNamara, writer of Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2023 blockbuster Poor Things, has allegedly worked on a draft of the script. However, whether or not Stiller will make any changes to it remains to be seen.
The Seven Five is reported to be based on Tiller Russell’s acclaimed 2014 eponymous documentary. It follows a corrupt police station whose leader, Michael Dowd was arrested, along with some other cops, in 1987 for stealing money and drugs. This unveiled the corruption in the New York Police Department.
Ben Stiller Never Really Stopped Directing
Despite its ensemble cast featuring the likes of Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor, Billy Zane, Tommy Hilfiger, Alexander Skarsgard, and many others, Zoolander 2 failed to impress the audience.
This movie also marked Jerry Stiller’s final appearance in a film. It earned a meager $56.7 million against a $50–55 million production budget. Ben Stiller reprised his role in the 2001 film and directed it, but he has been on a long filmmaking hiatus since.
While this movie will mark his filmmaking comeback, he has not gone too long without shouldering responsibilities as a director. In 2018, he directed the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora, which earned him a Directors Guilds of America Award, and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He also directed and executive produced the Apple TV+ series Severance, which earned him two more Emmy nominations.
Frequently asked questions
What project is Ben Stiller reportedly directing next?
Ben Stiller is reportedly set to direct The Seven Five, a crime drama for Amazon/MGM, according to industry insider TheInSneider. The project is said to be based on Tiller Russell’s acclaimed 2014 documentary of the same name, which follows a corrupt police precinct whose leader, Michael Dowd, was arrested in 1987 alongside other officers for stealing money and drugs.
Who is expected to star in The Seven Five?
The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is reportedly set to lead The Seven Five. White has gained a large following recently thanks to his role in the FX series and his performance as late professional wrestler Kerry Von Erich in The Iron Claw. Tony McNamara, writer of Poor Things, has reportedly worked on a draft of the script.
What has Stiller directed since Zoolander 2?
Since Zoolander 2 in 2016, Stiller has continued directing television rather than films. In 2018, he directed the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora, earning a Directors Guild of America Award and two Emmy nominations. He also directed and executive produced Apple TV+’s Severance, which brought him two additional Emmy nominations.
