Justin Timberlake almost got “Moist” for his first movie in theaters– and now that he’s no longer wet behind the ears, director Barry Sonnenfeld is looking at the singer as a possibility once more to get the project’s juices flowing.
“Moist” is a darkly comic novel by Mark Haskell Smith about a morgue attendant named Bob, who is “living way below his ability,” spending all his free time playing video games, until he comes across a severed arm with an erotic tattoo of a woman he falls for. In the course of trying to find out who she is, Bob ends up becoming Roberto, a kingpin of the Los Angeles Mexican mafia — ultimately replacing the man who the severed arm belonged to in the first place.
“I love the book,” Sonnenfeld said. “Tonally, it’s like ‘Pineapple Express.’”
Sonnenfeld wanted the lead role in “Moist” (not to be confused with the Dr. Horrible version) to be a “good looking and yet somehow slightly quirky guy. He’s not traditionally handsome. He’s funny.” So four years ago, he sent the script to Timberlake — who was just starting to shoot his first film, “Edison Force“, which ended up going straight to video.
“He read the script, he liked it, we had lunch, he agreed to do it,” Sonnenfeld recalled. “But through no fault of his own, nothing to do with him, we weren’t able to get financing. So it almost got made, but not quite.”
Now, the director is actively talking to studios once again about the project, he’s got actors on the mind who might be best for Bob. “Jake Gyllenhaal, he’s always funny,” Sonnenfeld said. “Or Ashton Kutcher, or Seth Green, or who’s that Mac guy? Justin Long.”
Meanwhile, the other Justin — who’s had a steady stream of not-quite-hits with “Alpha Dog,” “Black Snake Moan,” “Southland Tales” and (ahem) “The Love Guru” — might want to consider jumping back on board. Maybe it can’t be his first movie, but it could still be a first for him — his first lead role. And Sonnenfeld still wants him: “Justin would be great.”
Does the premise of this comic noir sound intriguing? Have you read the book? Do you think Justin Timberlake would be a good Bob? If not, then who? What kind of film would you like to see Justin in?
