In an eyebrow raising move (see what I did there?), Rob Zombie has announced plans to direct a non-horror movie based on the final years of Groucho Marx‘s life. The film will be an adaptation of Steve Stoliar’s memoir Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House. Stoliar’s book recounts the strange last years in Groucho’s life as told through the eyes of a young fan working as both his personal secretary and archivist.
“I have been a huge Groucho Marx fan ever since I was a child and have read countless book on the comic legend, but after reading the book Raised Eyebrows, a totally new perspective on Groucho’s life emerged,” says Zombie. “I immediately saw this project as Groucho’s Sunset Boulevard and knew I had to bring it to the big screen. It is a sad, funny and very dark tale of a one of Hollywood’s greatest stars final years.”
Zombie has long been connected with the horror genre with the prevalent imagery in his music — as well as the films under his belt like House of 1,000 Corpses and Lords of Salem — but signs are suggesting that the director wants to branch out to other genres. Sure, he’s currently in the middle of shooting 31, a horror film that takes place inside a deadly sounding funhouse called “Murder World” which may or may not have been inspired by the Uncanny X-Men. BUT, he is also in the middle of writing a script about the Philadelphia Flyers called Broad Street Bullies with the intent to direct. If he can successfully transition out of his scary movie comfort zone to direct a movie about hockey, then anything is possible!
(Via Deadline)
