Payne Reliever

Alexander Payne is set to helm the family dramedy "The Descendants" says Variety.

Based on Kaui Hart Hemmings' 1st book of the same name the story follows a wealthy landowner who takes his two daughters to Hawaii on a search for his wife's lover in the hopes of keeping his family together.

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's adapted script is being polished by Payne. Payne is also co-producing the pic.

Filming kicks off on location at the end of the year or early 2010.

Payne also already has another film in the works, Downsizing starring Paul Giamatti,. Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon. Production on that will begin on that film as soon as 'Descendants' is completed

It's about time Payne got back to doing his thing--he hasn't had a film in theaters since '04's "Sideways"