Finally bringing together the simpatico fields of private investigation, moms, and the people who’d love to “F” them, Humpday director Lynn Shelton is working on a film about the unlawful shenanigans of a private-investigation firm staffed by attractive soccer moms. The film will be based on the non-fiction book The Setup, by Peter Crooks, which details the rise and fall of former cop Chris Butler and his attempt to operate his own, reality TV-friendly take on Charlie’s Angels (and also possibly a drug ring).
If this story sounds familiar, it’s probably because This American Life chronicled Crooks’ investigation a few years ago, for an episode titled “The Incredible Case Of The P.I. Moms.” The movie is being made in partnership with the show, with host Ira Glass and producer Alicia Shipp both named as producers on the film. Hollywood has been mining TAL episodes for material for years; Paul Feig’s Unaccompanied Minors was based on an episode of the show, and Glass produced and co-wrote Mike Birbiglia’s Sleepwalk With Me, based on a segment that aired in 2008 (and also Birbiglia’s one-man show and book).
Shelton’s last film was the unremarkable Laggies; she recently started development on an anthology series with HBO, and periodically directs episodes of New Girl and Fresh Off The Boat. She serves a co-writer on the new film.