Merrick here...

Mel Gibson may take the leading role in THE BEAVER. Jodie Foster is considering co-starring and is eyeing the project as a directing op.

Some background/refresher: Kyle Killen’s “Beaver” has generated huge heat in development circles, landing the top spot on the Black List last year. The story centers on a grown man who wears a beaver puppet on his hand that he treats as a real person, and those familiar with the script have compared it to “Lars and the Real Girl” and the work of Charlie Kaufman.

...says THIS ENTRY at the RiskyBusinessBlog.

Foster's last directing gig was HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, from a script by the great W.D. Richter. She previously worked alongside Mel during Richard Donner's 1994 adaptation of MAVERICK.