Jenna Fischer‘s potential has so far been untapped in the movie world, normally playing a second banana female love interest (for proof, watch the trailer for Hall Pass). Now it looks like Fischer, who everyone fell in love with as Pam on the U.S. version of The Office, will finally get her time in the spotlight; she has signed on to play the female lead in The Giant Mechanical Man. [ComingSoon.net]

The movie, written and directed by her husband Lee Kirk, will find Fischer’s character, a quiet zookeeper, falling in love with a street performer played by Chris Messina. Malin Akerman has also signed on to play Fischer’s sister who wants her to date an egotistical motivational speaker (Topher Grace) instead. I’m keen on seeing Fischer get a high profile role; when The Office falls flat on its face next season without Steve Carell, it’ll be nice to have something to fall back on.

The Giant Mechanical Man starts shooting in Detroit later this month and will probably see a release sometime in 2011.

Any interest in The Giant Mechanical Man? How about Jenna Fischer as a whole?

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