EXCLUSIVE
〉Universal bought the romantic comedy pitch in 2012
EXCLUSIVE
Photo: Greenbaum, Courtesy of Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Love is in the air as Universal Pictures moves forward with the Ben Schwartz-scripted romantic comedy NO HEARTS CLUB, securing emerging helmer Josh Greenbaum to direct. The pic, which is being produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard for their Imagine Entertainment shingle, was sold as a pitch from Schwartz in 2012, with Schwartz also hired on to write.
An original rom-com touted to focus on the male perspective a la Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the film follows a man who gets dumped by his “perfect” girlfriend after she tells him that he doesn’t love her the way she loves him. He then heads to Paris solo in search of a reserved author and founder of a self help group, who he believes can teach him the secret to being in love.
Imagine’s Kim Roth is executive producing, while Anna Culp will oversee. Chole Yellin and Maradith Frenkel are overseeing for Universal.
Greenbaum burst onto the scene when he was awarded the 2007 grand prize for the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmakers award and in the same year received two Emmy’s for his PBS documentary. Since that time, he’s sold several projects to CBS, Comedy Central, The CW, and FOX TV, and directed an episode of ABC’s The Neighbors. On the feature side, he’s attached to helm his first narrative feature, The Art of Cool, for Sony and sold a pitch to Paramount.
Photo: Schwartz, Courtesy of Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
Currently, Greenbaum is slated to direct 20th Century Fox’s Flat Stanley adaptation, which is based on the beloved children’s book series written by Jeff Brown. Most recently, however, he produced and directed Hulu’s documentary series Behind The Mask, which chronicles the lives of sports mascots.
Schwartz, perhaps best known for playing the enigmatic buffoon Jean Ralphio on Parks and Recreation and the arrogant Clyde Oberholdt on House of Lies, has also forged a steady career as a screenwriter. Aside from No Hearts Club, Schwartz sold his Black List script El Fuego Caliente to Paramount and sold an untitled project to Good Universe, which he is writing and starring in opposite Seth Rogen, with Adam McKay directing.
He’s repped by UTA and Management 360. Schwartz is repped by WME and Haven Entertainment.
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Clark Allen | Associate Editor
