Alexander Payne opts for 'Descendants'

Oscar-winning filmmaker Alexander Payne, whose last feature was 2004's splendid comedy "Sideways," will direct Fox Searchlight's upcoming family dramedy "The Descendants."

The film is based on Kaui Hart Hemmings' novel and follows a rich landowner who embarks on a search for his wife's lover with his two daughters. His plan is to do everything it takes to keep his family together.

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash wrote the script, but Payne is currently doing some rewrites, according to Variety. He will shoot the film later this year or early 2010 in Hawaii. Casting has yet to get under way.

Payne also directed "About Schmidt" and "Election." One of his upcoming projects is "Downsizing," a comedy starring Paul Giamatti, Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon.

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Tom Bezucha to direct 'The Way Back'

Tom Bezucha is in talks to direct Mandate Pictures' upcoming coming-of-age comedy "The Way Back."

Written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, the story centers on a teenager who forms a special friendship that will help him find the encouragement to reconnect with his mom and confront his unkind stepfather.

Variety says Shawn Levy was originally attached to direct the film, although he had to drop the project to shoot "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian." He will be co-producing "Way."

The trade also says filming should begin later this year. Bezucha's directing credits include "Big Eden" and "The Family Stone," which I personally couldn't stand.

IMDb also has Bezucha listed as director of "Orbit," based on the novel by John Nance. I have no word on that film's current status.

This "The Way Back" is not to be confused with Peter Weir's next film, which carries the same title but centers on a group of soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag in 1940.