Mike White Is Reportedly The Top Choice To Direct 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies'

I evidently need to read the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies script (anyone got it?) because while the idea of inserting zombies in Jane Austen's classic story sounds amusing enough to power a bit of sketch comedy, I'm having difficulty coming to terms with it as something that people are jockeying to direct.

The latest contender for the director's chair, recently abdicated David O. Russell, is School of Rock writer Mike White.

That's according to the LA Times. Lionsgate is looking for someone to direct the film and is expected to announce a choice soon, and the paper says that Mr. White, who also directed The Year of the Dog in addition to writing and acting in other films, is " seen as one of the few candidates who can handle the film's many tones." That's because the studio needs someone who can handle a period story with drama, horror and comedy. Is Mike White the guy? He's had his hand in a lot of projects, most of which are comedy with a realistic bent, but I'm not sure he's got the mastery to make P&P&Z more than an extended gag reel.

Let Me In director Matt Reeves is said to be out of the running, but the field still sounds like it is pretty open. So the previous shortlist (which also included Neil Marshall, Mike Newell, David Slade, Jonathan Demme and Phil Lord & Chris Miller) is more or less the same, minus Matt Reeves. Rumored stars include Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton, but no cast is locked down at this point.