There are a few things you need to know about Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming film The Informant!. It stars Matt Damon; it’s created a lot of buzz because he gained weight for the role; and it’s a comedy based on a true story as told in Kurt Eichenwald’s book of the same name. It also looks like it’s going to be hilarious.
The story focuses on Mark Whitacre, a high-powered exec turned whistle blower who goes under cover for the government to bring down an agri-business giant. (The financial scandal centers around a price-fixing scheme.) Damon (who looks like a schlubby ’70s porn star even though this is set in the ’90s) brings a large dose of wackiness to the role of Whitacre (who is bipolar and unstable), ensuring this film skews more Ocean’s Eleven than The Girlfriend Experience or Che. While he’s made a career out of dramas and thrillers, we’ve always liked Damon in random comedic parts, like when he guest starred on Will & Grace or hosted SNL, so it will be interesting to see if he can carry a film. We’re betting he can.
We were also excited to see that Arrested Development‘s Tony Hale seems to have a sizable role that isn’t just a riff on Buster Bluth.
Look for The Informant! to hit theaters this fall and let us know what you think of trailer below.