‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ Trailer: Ben Stiller Lives in His Imagination

After years of being one of America's favorite funny guys, it looks like Ben Stiller is really trying to do something different. The trailer for 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' has arrived and it features Stiller, as an actor and as a director, stretching his talents in a way that we haven't seen before.

Based on the famous 1939 short story by James Thurber, the film follows a timid and mild-mannered man who ignores the real world in favor of engaging in complicated daydreams where he's dashing, heroic and interesting. The basic plot of the story has been slightly retooled from the barebones story, making Walter Mitty a photographer who must go on a "real-life adventure" when one of his negatives goes missing, forcing a man who has always lived in insular life to confront the real world for the first time.

Although the story was previously adapted in 1947, this particular adaptation is the culmination of decades worth of failed and botched attempts from all kinds of talented filmmakers, writers and actors. Even if Stiller isn't the man for the job (and who are we to judge from a trailer?), the mere fact that he got it made is a bit of a miracle. Also, the fact that his cast of co-stars includes the incredible likes of Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt and the legendary Shirley MacLaine is evidence that this will certainly be a movie to keep your eye on.

'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' opens on December 25, 2013, where it will attempt to be the movie to take your family to see during the holiday festivities.