To call this next news story unexpected would be a bit of an understatement. Ben Stiller is no stranger to directing movies, having recently helmed Tropic Thunder, and before that Zoolander, The Cable Guy and Reality Bites. Of course, the one thing these movies all have in common is that they are comedies, but now it looks like Stiller is trying to branch out into something a little more serious.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stiller is among the short list of directors being considered for the Dreamworks drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 about the activists who were held on trial by the U.S. government in 1968 under charges of conspiracy. (The same subject was covered earlier this year by Brett Morgen’s documentary Chicago 10.) Both Steven Spielberg and Paul Greengrass were previously considering taking on the project, and personally I would have preferred either of those guys, but who knows, maybe Stiller could pull it off. The story does have some comedic elements to it, as the defendants staged some rather funny stunts in the courtroom. What do you think, does Stiller have what it takes? Are you looking forward to this movie?