Skip to main content

Chippendales origin story eyeing Dev Patel, Ben Stiller for starring roles

chippendales ben stiller dev patel
Have you ever wondered what would happen if Magic Mike and Scarface got together and had a love child? No? Yeah … neither have we. But we’re about to find out, for better or for worse. That is more or less how Deadline describes Chippendales, which is set to bring the sordid origin story of the eponymous male dancing troupe to the big screen — and it looks like both Dev Patel and Ben Stiller could be on board.

The project has been making the rounds for a while, but Bold Films has now agreed to finance the film, which already has Stiller on board to play Nick De Noia, a one-time Emmy-winning children’s television producer who recruited the Chippendales, choreographed their routines, and managed their tours. Patel, on the other hand, is in talks to star as Steve Banerjee, an India-born club owner whose establishment gained worldwide fame for hosting the show.

In case you were wondering — and you secretly were — neither Patel nor Stiller is expected to disrobe during the film, and this seems like a weightier, more sobering story than you might expect. In fact, if it really were a love child between the two films mentioned above, it would take more after Scarface. That is because the film is based on an almost unbelievable true tale involving some of the shadiest characters imaginable — expect it to feature murder, suicide, racketeering, arson, and a host of other illicit activities. Here is what Bold Films co-founder Gary Michael Walters had to say about the project:

“It is the Horatio Alger story gone horribly wrong. It is a true life Boogie Nights, a wild ride through the seamy underbelly where entertainment and criminality meet, during a period where the pendulum swung toward female sexuality.”

This project is still in its early stages, so details are scarce and its release date is still very much to be determined. Before it can move forward, it first needs to hire a director, as big names like Tony Scott (Top Gun), and Oliver Stone (Platoon) were once attached. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated as information becomes available.

In the meantime, you can catch Patel in the Oscar-nominated Lion and Stiller in Brad’s Status on September 15, 2017).

Adam Poltrack
Adam is an A/V News Writer for Digital Trends, and is responsible for bringing you the latest advances in A/V…
7 bizarre facts about Spider-Man you should know
spiderman no way home sony first 10 minutes spider man opening

As one of the most popular and longest-running superheroes in history, Spider-Man has had many weird and wild stories in the Marvel Universe. Since the character has been making comics for over sixty years now, the writers were bound to come up with some bizarre ideas for the web-slinger's adventures.

Even for a person who dresses like a spider and swings across New York fighting all sorts of wacky supervillains, these seven facts about Spider-Man are strange, even for him.
Spider-Man once killed Mary Jane!

Read more
Where to watch American Ninja Warrior live stream for free
A woman holds onto an obstacle in American Ninja Warrior.

The Ninjas are back for another shot at $1 million in American Ninja Warrior. The reality competition series features some of the most athletic people on the planet as they compete in obstacle courses that test their physical and mental strength. Competitors must get through the qualifiers and semifinals to earn the right to compete in Las Vegas at the National Finals, which includes the daunting rope climb known as Mount Midoriyama. Geoff Britten, Isaac Caldiero, and Drew Drechsel are the only competitors in the series' history to complete all four stages at the National Finals and achieve Total Victory.

The 15th season of American Ninja Warrior will implement new changes to the format. The Mega Wall is even taller, standing at 18-and-a-half feet. The semifinals will also include head-to-head races between the ninjas, so it's win or go home. Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila, and Zuri Hall are back to host the new season. The road to Total Victory starts tonight.
Watch American Ninja Warrior live stream on NBC

Read more
Which Marvel villains should be in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4?
Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

The MCU has plenty of upcoming projects that fans are excited about, but a potential fourth entry in Tom Holland's Spider-Man series is near the list's top. 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with Holland's Peter entering a new phase in his life. Forgotten by the world and with no one left by his side, Peter is now closer to the perpetually down-on-his-luck version from the comics that fans have come to know and love. The ending is the perfect setup for a new Spidey adventure, with Spider-Man acting as the street-level hero he was always supposed to be. But who should he fight in his new adventure, especially now that he has no Avengers or Avengers-adjacent allies by his side?

Well, the possibilities are limitless. After all, Spider-Man has some of the best and most iconic villains in Marvel comics, and while many have already appeared in the Web Slinger's numerous live-action projects, some remain untouched by the film industry. From fearsome crime bosses to chameleonic supervillains, these infamous foes would make worthy enemies for Holland's Spider-Man.
Chameleon

Read more