Though Joe Dante‘s name hasn’t really been on a theater screen in some time — The Hole (his only feature since 2003’s Looney Tunes: Back in Action) was initially released in 2010, but had barely received a U.S. theatrical run to begin with — finally, a genre king is staging his next picture. According to TheWrap, wheels are spinning on Burying the Ex, a Voltage-backed project which, thank the financing Gods, has secured a veritable slate of young talent: Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene, Oliver Cooper (Runner, Runner; The Hangover Part III), and Alexandra Daddario (Percy Jackson, HBO’s upcoming True Detective).
In a scenario scripted by Alan Trezza (adapting a 2008 short which he both wrote and directed) that sounds somewhat along the lines of The Howling meets The ‘Burbs, Burying the Ex follows a young couple, Max (Yelchin) and Evelyn (Greene), whose decision to live with one another exposes a fissure in their relationship: she’s “controlling and manipulative,” while he possesses no will to put his own stamp on the situation. When Evelyn perishes in a “freak accident,” Max is allowed to form a relationship with a new woman, Olivia (Daddario) — why, it’s almost as if Joe Dante is making a film that looks at traumatic events through a comedic lens! — but, alas, “Evelyn rises from the grave and sets out to get her boyfriend back, even if that means turning him into one of the undead.”
Along with Voltage’s backing, Burying the Ex will receive producing benefits from Act 4 Entertainment, ArtImage Entertainment, and Scooty Woop Entertainment; shooting is said to have begun yesterday. Good to have you back, Dante.
What are some thoughts on the man’s next title, based on these initial details?