González Iñárritu’s Black Comedy “Birdman” to be Released in October

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s next project will be migrating to theaters in October…

Fox Searchlight co-president Stephen Gilula has announced that the 50-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s Birdman will open in theaters on Friday, October 17.

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman

The film isn’t expected to complete post-production until late May or early June, with producers it eyeing fall festivals for its premiere.

It’s González Iñárritu’s first black comedy, following the Academy Award-nominated director’s dramatic films Amores perros (2000), 21 Grams (2003), Babel (2006) and Biutiful.

“It’s the heart of the fall, and a great time historically for us with films like Sideways, 12 Years A Slave, and historically Slumdog Millionaire and Black Swan,” Gilula tells Deadline.com. “We’ve had great success launching films at festivals, but this hasn’t been screened for anyone, despite the speculation. Alejandro is famous for his meticulous work in post-production, and this film is unusual for him in that is has some visual effects, and an unusual sound design. The most important thing is to make sure that the film is right.”

The film has an all-star cast that includes Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and his muse Naomi Watts, who appeared in the director’s Babel and 21 Grams.

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman

Keaton plays a washed up actor who once played an iconic superhero who tries to mount a stage play despite his dysfunction and the dysfunction of others in his repertoire.

Inarritu wrote the film with Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo.

Iñárritu to Direct First Comedy Film, “Birdman”

Alejandro González Iñárritu is switching things up…

The 49-year-old Mexican filmmaker, known for dramatic films like Amores perros, 21 Grams and Babel, is set to direct a comedy called Birdman.

Alejandro González IñárrituBirdman will be Inarritu’s first comedic endeavor,” about an actor in crisis who once played a superhero and struggles in the days leading up to the opening of a Broadway play, according to sources close to the director.

Iñárritu plans to begin production on the film, which he co-wrote with Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo, in March 2013.

The movie will ambitiously take place in one location over three days, and will be produced by Iñárritu, Robert Graf and John Lesher.