Paramount books Kirkpatrick for 'Man'

'NowhereLand' director takes the reigns of adaptation

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Paramount Pictures has acquired the John O'Farrell novel "The Best a Man Can Get" and will develop it as a comic directing vehicle for Karey Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick recently wrapped "NowhereLand," the Par comedy starring Eddie Murphy.

Kirkpatrick will pen the script with O'Farrell once the strike ends. Kathleen Kennedy will produce it with Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick, who is one of the writers on Par's "The Spiderwick Chronicles," made his live-action directing debut on "NowhereLand," which Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson scripted. Kirkpatrick previously directed the feature toon "Over the Hedge" and is an animation vet whose script credits include "Chicken Run," "Charlotte's Web" and "James and the Giant Peach."

Set in London, "The Best a Man Can Get: A Novel of Fatherhood and Its Discontents" revolves around a musician with major commitment problems that lead him into a double life. He bunks with three pals in a bachelor's flat, but he is also a married man and father of two small children who tells his exasperated wife he often sleeps in the studio, working hard on jingle writing. The novel was published in 2002 by Broadway Books.