Derick Martini Celebrates "31 Days of Larry"

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Derick Martini ("Lymelife") is set to direct the romantic comedy "31 Days of Larry" for Lionsgate, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the Hollywood Reporter: Derick Martini is raising his glass to direct the Lionsgate romantic comedy "31 Days of Larry." John Goldwyn is in talks to produce.

The story revolves around a woman in desperate need of money and a depressed man, Larry, who has trouble killing himself. The two concoct a plan to get married so the man gets help committing suicide and the woman receives the life-insurance payout.

Lionsgate picked up the spec by Corinne Kingsbury last summer. Martini will help develop the project and oversee a script rewrite by Kingsbury.

Martini's first film, "Lymelife," starred Alec Baldwin and was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, and won the international critics award at the Toronto International Film Festival and snagged the filmmaker a Gotham Awards nomination for breakthrough director.

Last fall, Martini sold his original comedy spec, "I Am My Family's Secret," to Paramount with Montecito producing and Martini attached to direct.

Martini clearly is a filmmaker to watch, especially considering Martin Scorsese executive produced his first project. With someone like Scorsese backing your film, obviously you have some talent and the new project looks to be right up Martini’s alley.

“31 Days of Larry” will shoot sometime in 2010.