As buyers circle hockey comedy “Goon” following its raucous Saturday preem, co-writer and star Jay Baruchel is warming up to co-script sports comedy “Baseballissimo” with writing partner Jesse Chabot.
Pic is based on the popular 2005 non-fiction book by beloved Canuck musician and scribe Dave Bidini (of Gemini-winning docu “Tropic of Hockey,” based on his 2003 book). “Baseballissimo” charts the author’s family adventures in Nettuno, the baseball capital of Italy, where American G.I.s introduced the game in 1944.
Book was optioned last year by Rush frontman and baseball fanatic Geddy Lee, who hooked up with Toronto producer and A71 Productions prexy David Miller (2007 Toronto pic “Amal”) and brought the project to Montreal-based Baruchel and Chabot last December.
Miller secured some Canuck development cash, and this summer took the writing duo, Lee and Bidini (both serving as exec producers) to Nettuno, and also began the scout for Euro co-pro partners.
“Bidini felt it was really important for Jay and Jesse to experience the town and meet the manager of the local baseball team,” said Miller, whose shingle just wrapped Nova Scotia helmer Jason Buxton’s feature bow “Bye Bye Blackbird,” exec produced by Thom Fitzgerald (“The Hanging Garden”).
