Burr Steers directs “17”

From the Hollywoodreporter (10 September 2007):

Steers ’17’ again for New Line

TORONTO — Burr Steers is on board to direct “17,” a teen comedy from New Line Cinema set to star Zac Efron. Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot, who worked with Efron on “Hairspray,” are producing via their Offspring Entertainment shingle.

The script, written by Jason Filardi, concerns a grown man who finds himself as a 17-year-old trying to navigate high school. The studio picked up the project as a pitch this past winter.

Jason Barrett is exec producing.

Mark Kaufman and Keith Goldberg are overseeing for the studio.

Steers wrote and directed 2002’s award-winning young adult drama “Igby Goes Down.” He also has directed episodes of “Weeds,” “Big Love” and “The L Word.”

Steers is repped by CAA.

Also from Variety (9 September 2007):

New Line taps Steers to drive ’17’
High school comedy to star Zac Efron

Burr Steers (“Igby Goes Down”) has been tapped to direct New Line’s high school comedy “17,” starring Zac Efron.

Mini-major is fast-tracking “17,” with production beginning in December. Jason Filardi script centers on a middle-aged father who wakes up to find he’s 17 again; he enrolls in the same high school as his two kids to be close to them.

Project reunites Efron with “Hairspray” director Adam Shankman, who’s producing with Jennifer Gibgot through their Offspring Entertainment.

“It’s been very important to Jennifer and I that we pair Zac with a director that has a truly original voice and style,” Shankman said.

Efron’s manager Jason Barrett will exec produce. New Line won the bidding for the project in February.

Steers has shot episodes of “Big Love” and “Weeds.”

He is repped by CAA.