Josh Hutcherson Goes Ape For Miguel Sapochnik

Due to the massive success of The Hunger Games, Josh Hutcherson can likely have his pick of roles for quite a while. He could opt to go the major blockbuster route, sticking to adaptations of young adult novels that will rake in the cash, or he could get… darker. It looks like he’s deciding to go the latter route, as he’s now signed on to star in and produce Ape, the story of a man who’s struggling with mental illness and a family secret.

That definitely doesn’t sound like a light-hearted story, but then again, what’s darker than a bunch of kids killing each other? Unfortunately, we still don’t know much about the film, but Hutcherson does say that he believes in the global appeal of the project, and to see it made would be a dream come true.

Miguel Sapochnik, who directed Repo Men, is at the helm of the project, working off a script by Jon Johnstone. In addition to Hutcherson, Bree Herzog is producing for Atomic Owl and Michelle Fightmaster and Ric Beddingfield for JetLag.

There’s no still word on any production timetable for Ape, as Hutcherson is currently in Panama filming the Pablo Escobar drama Paradise Lost, which stars Benicio Del Toro. Then of course, he has The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which hits theatres this November.

Hutcherson is definitely a talented actor, and it seems like a good career move to take on something much darker right now. Whether he can successfully pull off such an intricate role is yet to be seen, but this project certainly has my attention.

What do you think of Hutcherson starring in Ape? Is this a role you’re interested to see him take on? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.