Hugh Jackman ready to be a makeup man

'Wolverine' attached to play an Avon salesman

By HitFix Staff Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 2:48 AM

Hugh Jackman is going 'The Full Monty," but not in the way you'd think.

Credit: AP Photo/Matt Sayles

If there is any bigger star in 20th Century Fox's stable besides Ben Stiller, it's Hugh Jackman and the studio just picked up the comedy "Avon Man" to develop with him in mind.

In a timely pitch, Variety reports Jackman would play an auto salesman laid off from an auto dealership who is reluctantly recruited into becoming an Avon salesman. While he initially finds the experience emasculating, his charismatic good looks help him rake in the sales. In a nod to "The Full Monty," Jackman's character recruits his unemployed former co-workers in the makeup business to save their families and financially strapped down by winning a regional contest.

Jackman and his longtime business partner John Palermo will produce and "Hitch" screenwriter Kevin Bisch is prepping the screenplay based on his own pitch.

Jackman lead off the summer season with the blockbuster "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" which raked in $363 million and delivered a new franchise for Fox. He'll return to Broadway this fall opposite Daniel Craig in the drama "A Steady Rain."