Judd Apatow is developing an untitled Pee-Wee Herman feature for Universal.
Variety reports that Paul Reubens is writing the project with Paul Rust. Apatow will produce through his Apatow Prods. Per Variety, the picture is said to be a road movie built around “a gigantic adventure.”
“Let’s face it, the world needs more Pee-wee Herman,” Apatow told Variety. “I am so excited to be working with Paul Reubens — who is an extraordinary and groundbreaking actor and writer. It’s so great to watch him return with such relevance.”
The two paired up after Apatow saw Reubens’ recent Pee-Wee Herman Show revival at the Nokia Theater in LA. The show is bound for a 10-week stint on Broadway starting Oct. 26.
“There is no one like Judd in our business — he loves comedy with emotion and heart, and he sees what we do as art,” Reubens told Variety. “I can’t believe I’m getting this opportunity to be working with him.”
Reubens’ Pee-wee has been enjoying a resurgence following an HBO special and numerous appearances on Late Night with David Letterman. In 1985, Reubens scored with the Warner Bros. pic Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, directed by Tim Burton in his feature debut.
However, Reubens’ career ascent hit a wall in 1991 when he was arrested for indecent exposure in Florida.
The Pee-Wee revival, Reubens has said, was spurred by the fact that Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and the 1985 film remain popular among adults and kids born long after the first wave of Pee-wee Herman.
Reubens will next be seen in Todd Solondz‘ Life Before Wartime, and he’s currently voicing Jokey Smurf in Columbia’s The Smurfs.
