{Exclusive} Craig Johnson Set To Direct “Alex Strangelove” For Ben Stiller’s Red Hour & STX

〉 The Skeleton Twins writer-director is headed back to high school with his latest dramedy.

Craig Johnson is set to direct the dramedy ALEX STRANGELOVE for STX Entertainment and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films. He will be working off of his own script, which is only being described as an unexpected twist on a typical high school movie. Sources confirm that with Johnson officially on board to direct, production is expected to begin this summer.

Nicky Weinstock will produce for Red Hour along with Jared Goldman of Mighty Engine. Cathy Schulman will oversee for STX.

Johnson, who made his feature debut with the Mark Duplass-starring True Adolescents in 2011, is perhaps best known as the writer-director of the Sundance hit The Skeleton Twins starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. That film, produced on a modest budget, became a festival darling and a buzzy indie hit that showed off the former SNL stars’ dramatic chops. Johnson recently completed production on Wilson, a comedy produced by Alexander Payne.

Red Hour, meanwhile, continues to build its development slate under its new pact with Bold Films. In addition to Alex Strangelove, the company is actively developing The Man Who Would Be Polka King with Jack Black and Cocksman & Cuckold with Adam Scott and Sam Rockwell. The shingle’s latest release, Zoolander No. 2, dropped in February.

Johnson is repped by CAA and Mosaic.

—TO SEE ALL THE PROJECT DETAILS CLICK HERE—

Josh Lyons | Managing Editor