One week into production on Will Ferrell soccer comedy "Kicking & Screaming," Universal is switching directors. Jesse Dylan, who helmed U's "American Wedding," will take over for Marco Schnabel.
Pic is shooting during a narrow window of availability in Ferrell's busy sked. Thesp is due to start "Bewitched" for Columbia this summer. Late last year, he wrapped a Woody Allen film and Focus Features' "Winter Passing."
Helming assignment would have been Schnabel's first after serving as second unit director on several Jay Roach projects, including "Meet the Parents" and the "Austin Powers" series.
"Kicking" will be Dylan's third pic at the helm. Before "American Wedding," he made his debut on 2001's "How High," also for U.
"Universal is delighted to reteam with Jesse Dylan," a rep for the studio said. "There will be minimal impact on the new film's schedule as he comes aboard."
Pic is a comic story of a father and son working out their issues on the soccer field. Ferrell plays the reluctant coach of his 10-year-old son's team who left the game after his overly competitive father, played by Robert Duvall, made his life miserable when he played as a kid. Duvall's character, who has a young son of his own, coaches another team in the league, putting father and son at loggerheads once again.
Jimmy Miller of the Mosaic Media Group is producing the pic. Overseeing for U are vice chair Mary Parent and exec VP Holly Bario.
Dylan is repped by CAA, Schnabel by William Morris.
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