HBO has made a name for itself by getting high-profile movie stars to act in its TV shows and, along the way, it has produced a number of pedigreed made-for-TV movies, as well. As audiences’ preference have shifted from the big-screen to the not-so-small ones in their living rooms, this trend has only been exacerbated.
First, we learned that Steven Soderbergh’s much discussed Liberace biopic, “Behind the Candelabra,” starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, would air first on HBO, rather than going the theatrical route.
The process of HBO becoming the new go-to destination for features was just further expedited. Larry David (star of the channel’s hit comedy “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) was set to make a movie with Jon Hamm and Michael Keaton, directed by Greg Mottola (“Superbad,” “Adventureland”), for theatrical release at Fox Searchlight. But now comes news that HBO has scooped up the project because–get this–they can offer a bigger budget! The times they are a-changin’.
The Los Angeles Times reports that, while plot details are being kept in the dark, the film is expected to be largely improvised, a la “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” David will share writing duties with his usual teammates: Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer.
David’s biggest two films to date, “Sour Grapes” (which he wrote and directed) and “Whatever Works” (which he acted in for Woody Allen), were regarded as bombs. But this is a big change of pace and hopefully, by incorporating elements of his great television show, the as-yet-untitled project will be a home-run.