Tim Burton to direct Big Eyes

OHMYGOSSIP — Tim Burton has signed on to direct ‘Big Eyes’ starring Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams, a drama about a real life couple who became famous for their drawings of wide-eyed children in the 1950s and 60s.

Tim Burton will direct ‘Big Eyes’. The ‘Dark Shadows’ director will helm the forthcoming drama starring Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams, which is based on the real life story of a couple whose artwork of large-eyed children became famed in the 1950s and 1960s, reports Deadline.

As well as finding a director, the project – which has long been delayed – is close to reaching a production deal with The Weinstein Company, which recently enjoyed success at the Academy Awards with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper-starring ‘Silver Linings Playbook’.

The movie centres on real life couple Walter and Margaret Keane, whose paintings of wide-eyed children became an art phenomenon with prints being mass marketed and sold all cross the US. However, the couple acrimoniously split and Walter took credit for the popular artwork, despite his wife being the true visionary in the family. The couple soon went to court where a judge ordered both to attempt to draw one of their famous figures and Margaret was vindicated.

The film was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszweski.

Burton was previously attached to produce the project with Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds considered for the main roles, but he has now signed on to direct.