Jack Black to Play Wrestling Priest

By James Wray Apr 21, 2005, 15:36 GMT

Jack Black has been cast in a film for Nickelodeon Movies about a priest who moonlights as a wrestler.

Jared Hess will direct from a script he write with Mike White.

In this true life inspired story, Black will play a Mexican priest who moonlights as a masked Lucha Libre wrestler in order to save an orphanage destined for closure. All the while, the priest must keep his identity hidden from the wrestling community and the church.

"I can't think of two people I'd rather party with than Mike White and Jared Hess," said Black, adding, "I can't wait to get down to Mexico."

This project will mark the third collaboration between Jack Black and Mike White -- the two played roommates in the hit film "School of Rock," which White also wrote, and appeared together in "Orange County," also written by White. White's other writing credits include "The Good Girl" and "Chuck & Buck," for which White received Independent Spirit Awards for Best Screenplay and Best First Feature, respectively. White also was awarded Best Male Performance at the Deauville Film Festival for his starring role in "Chuck & Buck."

This feature will mark Jared Hess's first movie since his debut feature, "Napoleon Dynamite," became an instant cult hit. Hess wrote and directed "Napoleon Dynamite" for roughly $400,000 and it has grossed nearly $45 million domestically. The film was nominated for Sundance's Grand Jury Prize as well as Best First Feature by the Independent Spirit Awards.

Production is due to begin in the fall with Paramount Pictures distributing.