Ben Stiller may soon be adding “Chippendales choreographer” to his resume.  Deadline reports that Stiller is in early talks to take a lead role in writer/director Alan Ball’s upcoming drama I Am Chippendales.  Though at first glance the pic may seem like a cheap Magic Mike cash-in, Chippendales tells the odd true story of gas-station-attendant-turned-Chippendales-co-founder Steve Banerjee.  An immigrant to the U.S., Banerjee became inundated with excess and riches, growing paranoid and eventually hiring a hit man to murder a Chippendales choreographer and two ex dancers.  Should he sign on, Stiller would play the choreographer.

Hit the jump for more, including an update on Stiller's next directorial effort.

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Ball, who won an Oscar for scripting American Beauty, committed to directing I Am Chippendales last year, along with the news that he will follow it up with I Dream of Gene.  After American Beauty, Ball spent the past decade working in television, creating HBO’s Six Feet Under and True Blood.  Now it appears that he’s ready to return to features in full force.

In addition to the news that Stiller may fill the choreographer role in I Am Chippendales, Deadline reports that The Weinstein Company is currently the favorite to make a deal on the film for distribution.  Stiller has ties to TWC, as he’s been circling the Thomas Edison drama The Current War as his next directorial vehicle for quite a while now, and Deadline reports that he's still very interested in the project.

No word on when production might begin on Chippendales, but Stiller is currently busy filming Night at the Museum 3 and recently wrapped Noah Baumbach’s While We’re Young.