Noah Baumbach Won’t Direct MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS

Earlier this month, Variety said that Noah Baumbach is in talks with 20th Century Fox to direct the adaptation of MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS with his Greenberg man Ben Stiller in talks to star.. Neither deals are locked in yet, still in negotiation process. But Los Angeles Times reported that Baumbach is NOTattached to direct the project anymore due to creative differences. And since Stiller was interested in the project only because of Baumbach, we can expect Stiller might not stick around for PENGUINS as well…

The story is based on the 1938 classic children’s book by Richard Atwater
The studio acquired screen rights to MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS a year ago and hired Sean Anders and John Morris to write the adapted screenplay.

Here’s the official synopsis of the book..
“Mr. Popper dreams about leaving his boring life and going on an adventure to the Antarctic. When the legendary Admiral Drake sends him a live penguin in response to his letter, he is thrilled. Very soon, he also receives a female companion for his penguin and they have 10 children. But Mr. Popper has enough trouble supporting his human family, and so he has the idea to take his penguins to the stage. Soon, Mr. Popper is up to his ears in adventure as he tries to manage 12 performing penguins and the trouble they inevitably get into.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins remains a classic, read and remembered by generations of loyal fans. Now, 70 years after its publication, it will be given a fresh new voice as an audiobook to attract a new generation of listeners.”