The Rainn Wilson superhero movie, Super, is getting closer to theatrical release. Writer-Director James Gunn’s film showed to an appreciative audience at the recent Toronto Independent Film Festival and got picked up by IFC for theatrical distribution.

Wilson, Dwight from The Office, plays the Crimson Bolt (aka Frank D’Arbo) a wannabe superhero with all the power his plumber’s wrench possesses when he hits something with it. Ellen Page as his equally nutty sidekick Boltie, and Kevin Bacon is the villain who’s stolen Wilson’s equally dysfunctional gal, played by Liv Tyler. Even Nathan Fillion (Castle, Dr. Horrible, Firefly) gets into the act and there’s even an appearance by Troma’s own Lloyd Kaufman. [Namedrop alert: I once sat next to Kaufman on a flight from New York to L.A. and is he ever entertaining in person!]

With his wrench and the best battle cry - “Shut up, crime!” - since Ben Grimm’s “It’s clobberin’ time!”, The Crimson Bolt begins a one-man war on all manner of crime, because dressing up as a superhero to win back your girlfriend is always a good idea.

Gunn’s the ex-husband of Wilson’s Office co-star Jenna Fischer. He’s a veteran of Troma studios movies, writer of The Specials and he directed his first film, Slither, in 2006.

Writing on the TIFF website, Colin Geddes says, “While Crimson Bolt bears likeness to the Watchmen, Defendor and Kick-Ass, James Gunn has created what is perhaps the definitive take on self-reflexive superheroes. If this outlandish dark comedy is not the zenith of its breed, God help us from what’s to come. Whether you’re new to the graphic novel game or a seasoned fanboy, you will find Super to live up to its name.”

The Los Angeles Times also raved about the film. Reviewer Mark Olsen calls Super “an alternately wild and moody film that is equal parts love story, portrait of mental instability and raucous comic-book-inspired action picture.”

I can’t wait! Super should debut sometime in 2011. All thanks to IFC for picking this up.

[Artwork: Rainn Wilson is The Crimson Bolt in Super]