Director Don Scardino (30 Rock, Royal Pains) has inked a deal to direct Steve Carell’s next big movie venture – Burt Wonderstone! Sitting idle since 2006, the New Line project follows a seasoned magician (played by Carell) who gets caught up in a crazy rivalry with a younger, popular sorcerer on the scene.

The original spec script was penned by writer Chad Kultgen, who titled the project ‘Burt Wonderstone: The Most Powerful Magician on Planet Earth’. Since then writers John Francis Daly of Bones fame, and Jonathan Goldstein, have revised the storyline, which will begin shooting this coming October in Los Angeles. J.C. Spink, Chris Bender, Tyler Mitchell and Carell will all be producing the comedy. You can expect to see Burt Wonderstone at some point next year.

Meanwhile, Carell is also on board 2012′s Great Hope Springs, as well as the upcoming Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, which he is currently filming. The picture centers on a asteroid about to hit Earth, and “a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart.” Carell will star alongside T.J. Miller and Keira Knightley. Stay tuned for more news on Burt and the casting of SCarell’s rival!

Steve Carell