And you thought Michael Scott was a bit unhinged.
Now free to pursue movie roles full time, Steve Carell has been on a roll. He starred this summer in the romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love." and just finished filming indie apocalypse dramedy "Seeking A Friend For The End of the World." Now, as he shoots a film with Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, the former "Office" boss has signed on to what is perhaps his most serious, challenging role yet.
Variety reports that Carell has agreed to play Jon Du Pon in "Foxcatcher," the true story of the paranoid schizophrenic financial heir who shot and killed Olympic wrestling champion Dave Schultz at a huge wrestling training facility that he built in the mid-90s. Following the killing, he locked himself in a house and negotiated with the police for days on end, essentially holding himself hostage.
Sentenced to 13 to 40 years in prison, died while incarcerated in 2010.
Carell has experience with depression in his roles, having played Frank in the 2006 hit, "Little Miss Sunshine." And he's always played down in the dumps well -- he proved that in "The 40 Year Old Virgin," as well as "Crazy, Stupid" -- but this takes it to a new level. And it may in fact be his attempt at righting six unjust Emmy snubs with an Oscar. The film will be directed by Bennett Miller, who got an Oscar nom for "Capote" and saw his star, Philip Seymour Hoffman, win Best Actor; his next film, this fall's "Moneyball," has earned rave reviews and Oscar buzz for star Brad Pitt.
For more, click over to Variety.
Sign up for Peacock
to stream NBCU shows.