City Slickers director Ron Underwood has a new project lined up, a ski team comedy called Woodchucks.
Len Britton and Rick Parks wrote the screenplay, and J. Todd Harris (Bottle Shock) of Branded Pictures Entertainment will produce along with Bradford Broyles and Britton. Branded exec Marc Marcum is a co-producer.
The dramatic comedy follows a Vermont ski team as it tries to prevent a corporate resort developer from wrecking their local mountain. Principal photography is scheduled to begin at the top of next ski season on location in Vermont.
Underwood, who is repped by UTA and Ensemble Entertainment, directed Tremors, Heart and Souls, Speechless and Mighty Joe Young before helming the disastrous Eddie Murphy vehicle The Adventures of Pluto Nash. For the last six years, he has been directing TV on series such as Heroes, Reaper and Ugly Betty.
“It’s been a long time since Downhill Racer, and while Woodchucks is certainly a lighter tone, it has the makings of the first exciting narrative ski movie in a long time,” says Underwood. “I’m an avid skier and I can’t wait to showcase the sport.”
Britton (Precious Find), who is a former professional ski coach, and Parks (Ever After), who is repped by Silvera Management, are both Vermont natives. Britton is partnered in the Vermont-based media company Britton-Broyles Media.
