Alexander Payne Signs Up For His First Movie Since Sideways

Alexander Payne has signed up for his first post-Sideways feature, The Descendants, about a father who embarks on a search for his incapacitated wife’s lover with his 10- and 17-year-old daughters in tow.

Payne is currently taking his crack at a script written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, based on Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel. The story takes place in Hawaii, and the project is expected to film there late this year or early next. There's no cast yet.

Payne has also committed to helm Downsizing, the satirical tale of a man (Paul Giamatti) who decides to shrink himself to reverse his misfortunes. Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon are set to co-star. Perhaps not surprisingly, that project is amid a long development, which Variety says gave Payne a window to helm The Descendants first.