After replacing Hugh Laurie in the RoboCop remake, Michael Keaton has gone ahead and replaced another talent on the directorial side. Variety reports that the actor is lining up his sophomore directing gig after helming 2008′s The Merry Gentleman to little fanfare.

Keaton will remain on the independent side, taking over Buttercup from Whale Rider‘s Niki Caro, who initially came in to replace Take This Waltz‘s Sarah Polley. Written by Alice O’Neil, the film follows “an adult woman who is forced to assume responsibility for her elderly father after he is arrested for drunk driving again. In doing so, she learns to not only accept his faults, but finally trust the other men in her life.”

With casting underway, the previously attached Jennifer Aniston and Alan Arkin are now out of the running. Keaton, who has taken the better half of a decade pretty light, with recent bit parts in The Other Guys and Toy Story 3, seems to be happily getting back into the spotlight with the major villain role in RoboCop as well as Greg Mottola’s HBO comedy with Larry David and Jon Hamm. And we’re certainly happy to have him back.

Are you looking forward to another feature from Keaton?