Philadelphia. A city in the North Eastern state of Pennsylvania where, some might say, it’s always sunny. For Rob McElhenny, though, Delaware Valley also served as inspiration for his long-running hit comedy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which he sold to FX at the ripe old age of 27. Ten years later, the star looks set to break into film in a similar manner.
According to a report by Deadline, McElhenny is poised to make his directorial debut with Figment, a family-friendly adventure film that he successfully pitched to Legendary Pictures for a seven-figure sum. Without doubt, this is a notable commitment for a company such as Legendary to make, particularly at such an early stage in the project’s life cycle. I guess it is a testimony to McElhenny, then, who showcased a four-minute test reel that seemed to make the deal a forgone conclusion.
Taking inspiration from age-old classic like E.T. and The Goonies, Figment is said to follow the tale of a quirky, imaginative boy and his family who soon find their wildest and greatest fears start to come to life. If the final product manages to tap into the wonder and unbridled imagination found in those aforementioned classics, McElhenny may soon become a wanted man in filmic circles.
Either way, for Figment, it’s understood the It’s Always Sunny star will write, direct, and produce the family-oriented title for Legendary, and while there is no word of casting at this nascent stage, hopefully we’ll learn more of the project sooner rather than later.
Tell us, are you as excited as Legendary were to see Rob McElhenny’s directorial debut with Figment? Let us know in the comments below.
