Brie Larson has a very bright future ahead of her. The recent Oscar-winner has Kong: Skull Island, Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire and an adaptation of The Glass Castle set for next year. Oh yeah, and she’ll play Captain Marvel for an indie production label called Marvel Studios in the near future as well. But before she suits up for the upcoming superhero film, she’ll step into the director’s chair. The Room actress makes her directorial debut with Unicorn Store, an independent comedy written by Samantha McIntyr (FX’s short-lived Married).
Larson, in addition to directing, will also produce and star in the upcoming film, as reported by THR (via Collider). It tells the story of Kit, “who, after moving back in with her parents, receives a mysterious invitation to a store that will test her ideas of what it really means to grow up.” One assumes Larson will play Kit, but that’s not confirmed at this time. They’re currently looking into financing the film, which shouldn’t be too hard given Larson’s booming popularity of late.
Although Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl) was once attached to direct with Rebel Wilson in the lead, that fell through and producers David Bernad and Reben Fleischer (Zombieland) turned the project in Larson’s direction before she won the Oscar. She previously co-directed the short film The Arm with Jessie Ennis and Sarah Ramos, which premiered at Sundance in 2012 and won the jury prize.
Production hopes to begin in October, before Larson puts on the superhero costume and begins her longterm Marvel commitment. Much like Paul Dano, Kristen Dunst and Idris Elba, fellow actors who also announced their directorial debuts earlier this summer, Larson is a versatile, inquisitive and multi-talented performer, and that should serve her well in the director’s chair. Her desire to switch between indies, blockbusters and mid-range films is positively thrilling, and I’m excited to watch her bounce all around the Hollywood circuit in the years to come.
