One would think blossoming into a famous comedian would open up doors to start writing your own material, but in reality, it frequently works oppositely. Many of Hollywood’s funniest actors started as stand-up comedians writing their own material or pitching sketches on shows like Saturday Night Live, but once they made it, those same brilliant minds looked to others to create the material. Some notable exceptions definitely apply. Woody Allen writes his own films. Adam Sandler and Chris Rock have produced a ton of screenplays in the past, but for every one of them, there’s twenty or thirty Bill Murray’s or Chevy Chase’s who have mostly stayed away from behind the scenes work. Yes, they improv and improve on what they’re given, but it’s hard to have true mastery over the direction of your career if you’re not writing or directing.

Over the last five years, Danny McBride has gone from an unknown to a rising star in the comedy world, but he hasn’t let that success dissuade him from his original goal. He went to film school to write and direct, and up to this point, he’s worked very heavily at the former. He penned the upcoming Your Highness and has written all three seasons of his wonderful HBO show Eastbound And Down. Now he’s ready to give part two of his plan a go. According to Indie Wire, McBride’s next project will likely see him step behind the camera for his first real shot at directing. The movie in question hasn’t been narrowed down yet, but it’ll likely come from his one of several projects in development at his Rough House Pictures’ banner.

Not everyone is cut out for directing, but if you don’t try, how the hell do you know?