Russell Brand to Star in THE HAUNTREPRENEUR for Paramount and Platinum Dunes

In May of last year, we brought you word that Paramount Pictures was vying for a spec script by Scott Rosenberg (Gone in Sixty Seconds) called The Hauntrepreneur with Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes lined up to produce. It now looks like Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek) will be attached to star in the family friendly film about a peculiar man hired to help a family adjust to their new town by creating a haunted house full of oddball characters. The studio had no comment on the casting and is now looking to place a director. The project has previously been described as similar in tone to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with a bit of Beetlejuice thrown in. I could definitely see Brand as an off-center combination of Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka and Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice. Hit the jump for more.

Variety reported on Brand’s attachment to the project, which will be the first for Platinum Dunes since 2010’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. 2012, however, will see production on Vigilandia and, hopefully, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Brand, on the other hand, can be seen in the upcoming Rock of Ages alongside Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta. He’s also working on an unscripted comedy series for FX. Here’s what Brand had to say about the show:

“I am so excited I’m on the point of climax, in fact I will put the “O” into FX, which spells FOX, which is actually the channel’s real name. That’s the only thing that worries me about all this to be honest. At least I’ll be able to have a Christmas drink with Bill O’Reilly.”

Finally, Brand is expected to start production soon on the as of yet untitled Diablo Cody film for Mandate Pictures.