Where in the world has Steve Martin been lately? The celebrated comic actor’s last big screen role was in the ill-received birding comedy The Big Year way back in 2011, and the only project he’s taken on since has been animated caper Home, in which he lends his voice to an alien. Luckily, it appears that Martin may be making a comeback, with word that he’s in talks to star in Magic Camp for Disney.
The actor was already involved with the family comedy, having penned the most recent draft of the script with A.C.O.D. writer-director Stu Zicherman (currently a writer-producer on FX’s Cold War-era spy drama The Americans). The previous version of the script came from Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, the duo behind Diary of a Wimpy Kid and its sequel. The pair are still on board with Magic Camp as producers, despite Disney feeling that the script required a different approach.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, which broke news of the actor’s forthcoming deal to star in the film, Martin will play a straitlaced banker who returns to Magic Camp, which he attended as a shy child. However, this time he is a counselor who makes it his mission to improve the lives of all the kids while keeping an eye on his ultimate prize, the top spot at the Golden Wand competition.
No director is attached to the project yet, but Martin’s involvement is reason enough to be excited. After all, the actor apparently got his start working in Disneyland’s Magic Shop, and he was a magician before breaking into acting. The Father of the Bride movies made Martin Disney royalty, but he hasn’t worked with the studio since 2003’s Bringing Down the House. Here’s hoping Magic Camp kicks off a new chapter in the ever-entertaining comic’s career.