Yep, Drew Barrymore is steadily embarking on a directing career and we’re actually pretty glad that she is. Her roller derby league coming-of-age tale “Whip It” was a lot better than the reception it received. A warm, funny story that also found a unique setting in which to spin a familiar tale, Barrymore got solid turns from her extensive cast, showed a keen ear for music with the extensive soundtrack and moreover, she had a pretty strong hand behind the camera.
For her third effort (more on that in a moment), Barrymore isn’t switching things up too much, as THR reports she’ll direct “Heist Society” with “Whip It” writer Shauna Cross to pen the screenplay. Based on the young adult novel by Ally Carter, the story “follows a young woman named Katarina Bishop who hails from an extended family of cat burglars and master thieves. The girl leaves her illicit life behind, but when her father is the prime suspect in the case of a mobster’s missing art collection, she assembles a crew to track down the art and steal it back.” The plan is to age up the characters to their early 20s and go from there. So an “Ocean’s Eleven“-esque tale with young women? Could be…interesting…
This already has franchise potential as Carter has published a follow-up, “Uncommon Criminals.” However, it will have to wait a second before rolling. Earlier this spring, Barrymore signed to direct “How To Be Single” and the plan is still for that to shoot first, and then to be followed by “Heist Society.”
It looks like Barrymore is slowly turning into a Ben Affleck of her own, opting to stand behind the camera just as often as in front. It’s a nice career move and while we have some issues and doubts with the material she’s working with, here’s hoping she expands on the promise of “Whip It.”
