Jake Gyllenhaal is reportedly in talks for the lead role in “The Way, Way Back” for producer Kevin Walsh and Mandate Pictures reports Variety (via The Playlist).
The story follows a teenage boy who, over the course of an extraordinary summer, forms a friendship that gives him the strength to stand up to his bullying stepfather and reconnect with his mother.
The project began life years ago with a script by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (“The Descendants”) which landed on the desk of “Night at the Museum” director Shawn Levy. He was committed to direct the film for Fox Searchlight, but then the WGA strike happened.
Two years later Mandate Pictures scored it and Tom Bezucha (“Monte Carlo”) became attached to helm. That version didn’t take off either. Now Faxon and Rahs are directing the project themselves, while Levy will produce.
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