Leslie Mann, Janelle Monae join Zemeckis’ next film for Universal Pictures

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Just a few days ago, we got word that BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy director Robert Zemeckis was being placed on the shorlist of potential directors for Warner Bros. and DC's THE FLASH, now, we've got some fresh casting additions to include for for his untitled project for Universal Pictures.

Word has come down the wire that Leslie Mann and Janelle Monáe have signed on to star opposite Steve Carell in Zemeckis' elusively titled project that's being pieced together from a screenplay he scribbled with Caroline Thompson, which is based on a 2010 documentary called MARWNCOL. Whoa, I can't even pronounce that name, can you? Anyway, the film will center on a man named Mark Hogancamp who is left brain-damaged and destitute, but then finds recovery in a sixth-scale World War II-era town he's built in his backyard. Whoa! That actually sounds pretty amazing.

Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke, who've collaborated with Zemeckis in the past for films such as FORREST GUMP, CAST AWAY, and FLIGHT, and hail from of Zemeckis’ Universal-based ImageMovers banner are producing with Cherylanne Martin. Also, in a cool twist, Jeff Malmberg (who directed the riveting 2010 documentary) will executively produce the film alongside Jackie Levine. 

Despite the film not having an official title at this time, Robert Zemeckis' project will make its way into theaters beginning on November 21, 2018.