Here’s a superhero project nobody saw coming. THR reports Ben Stiller will join with Cate Blanchett for a film adaptation of 1960s British superhero espionage series The Champions.
Stiller will not only star in the film along with Blanchett, but will make this his first directorial effort since 2016’s Zoolander 2. The series, which ran for 30 episodes from 1968-1969, centered on a trio of U.N. agents whose plane crash lands in the Hamalayas, only for the survivors to be rescued by an advanced civilization who grant them incredible powers. The trio continue working for their secret government agency, known as Nemesis, battling global threats such as fascists, Nazis, and more.
“I’ve long wanted to work with Ben — the director and the actor,” Blanchett said. “He is one of the most engaged and versatile directors working today. Anyone who can make both ‘Zoolander’ and ‘Escape at Dannemora’ is a creative force to be reckoned with.”
Stiller added, “I’m a huge fan of Cate’s for a very long time. I’m hoping this project will help people to finally take her seriously as an actress.”
Believe it or not, attempts to bring The Champions to the big screen have been ongoing for a while. Guillermo Del Toro was attached to a version back in 2007 that he would write and produce. A year later, Christopher McQuarrie joined as co-writer. Somehow it never came to be. Let’s hope this one gets off the ground.
