Russell Crowe to Star in 'Fathers and Daughters' for 'Seven Pounds' Director

Italian director Gabriele Muccino made his biggest move into Hollywood directing a pair of Will Smith weepers The Pursuit of Happyness and Seven Pounds, the former of which is pretty good while the latter is a melodramatic train wreck. Last year he tried something a little different, and the results were the terrible soccer rom-com Playing for Keeps with Gerard Butler. Having learned his lesson, Muccino has is going back to the type of family drama he knows best, and with an A-lister star in the lead.

Muccino will direct Russell Crowe in Fathers and Daughters, based on a Black List script by Brad Desch. The heart-tugging film centers on a famous New York City novelist suffering from mental illness as he struggles to raise his 5-year-old daughter. The story then picks up 25 years later as the daughter, now an adult, copes with the aftermath of her troubled childhood.

In other words, keep a box of Kleenex handy. No word on when filming will begin as it will be shopped at the American Film Market next month. With Crowe on board it should have no problem finding a buyer. [Variety]