Sandler booked for Disney's "Bedtime" tale

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Adam Sandler is set to star in his first Walt Disney Pictures film, the family comedy "Bedtime Stories."

Sandler will play a harried real estate developer whose life is turned upside down when the lavish bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew begin to come true.

The film will be directed by Adam Shankman, a specialist in the genre with such hits as "The Pacifier" and "Cheaper By the Dozen 2" to his credit.

Shankman said one reason Sandler signed on was "the fact that he is a new father, and the idea of making a beautiful Disney brand fantasy is something that is in his heart right now.

"And he gets to play dual roles. He gets to play a regular guy and a knight in shining armor in the fantasy world. The comedic possibilities are limitless. And there is nothing better than Adam and kids. It's going to be really fun."

Production will begin this year for a holiday 2008 release.

Sandler worked with Disney on the 1998 hit "The Waterboy," but that film was released under the Touchstone Pictures label.

He is currently in theaters with the drama "Reign Over Me," which has earned just $13.5 million after two weeks. His most recent comedy, "Click," grossed $137.3 million at the domestic box office last year. On Saturday, he received the 2007 Kids' Choice Award for favorite movie actor.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter