Undaunted by the disseminated to death videos of David O. Russell verbally assaulting Lily Tomlin on the set of I Heart Huckabees (find ’em yourself), Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel have bravely committed to starring in the director’s next feature, Nailed. Good for them. I want more David O. Russell movies, and I don’t care who has to catch an earful of invective to make it happen.
Nailed first drew attention back in late March (during the height of the Huckabees hysteria) when it was announced that O. Russell would be collaborating on the screenplay with Kristin Gore, the former Futurama writer and daughter of Al. The story centers on a "socially awkward" receptionist (Biel, natch) who develops a ravenous, uncontrollable sexual appetite when a laborer accidentally shoots a nail into her skull. The secretary then lights out for Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf of the "bizarrely injured", which brings her into contact with a sleazy legislator who takes advantage of her condition for his own political advancement.
Judging from the surface, this promises to be much more accessible than the philosophy-obsessed Huckabees. And if the writers are still on strike when this project starts shooting in January ’08, the story’s not likely to get any weirder, as O. Russell’s penchant for on-the-set invention would be a big WGA no-no. I’m sure he’ll handle this calmly and maturely.
Douglas Wick’s and Lucy Fisher’s Red Wagon Entertainment will produce Nailed with Persistent Entertainment. According to The Hollywood Reporter, neither Gyllenhaal nor Biel have officially signed, so don’t be surprised if this is the last story I file on this movie.