Schultz game for 'Like Mike'

20th Century Fox has tapped helmer John Schultz to direct teen rapper Lil' Bow Wow in his feature starring debut in the film project "Like Mike."

Written by scribe Mike Elliot, "Mike" centers on a teenager (Lil' Bow Wow) who finds a pair of Michael Jordan's sneakers that have magical powers, which catapult him to the NBA. The project is described as being in the same vein as "Big."

Fox picked up the project as a spec in April, paying $300,000 against $600,000 (HR 4/16). Elliot's manager Peter Heller is producing through his Heller Highwater management/production company. Elliot also will receive a co-producer credit.

TCF vp production Elysa Koplovitz brought the project to the division headed by Hutch Parker.
Schultz's directing credits include the Melissa Joan Hart starrer "Drive Me Crazy," also a 20th Century Fox film. His other credits include "Ripley Under Ground" and "Bandwagon," the latter of which he also wrote and produced.

Schultz is repped by CAA.