Jane Lynch Joins THE THREE STOOGES as Head Nun
by Adam Chitwood Posted: April 27th, 2011
Things are moving right along for the Farrelly brothers’ long-gestating The Three Stooges film. After finally locking up their cast with Will Sasso set as Curly, Sean Hayes signed on as Larry, and Chris Diamantopoulos in talks to play Moe, Jane Lynch has just signed on to play the head nun in the film. Deadline reports that Lynch will play Mother Superior in what will presumably be the opening “episode” of the flick. The Farrelly brothers previously mentioned that rather than doing a biopic, The Three Stooges will be comprised of three brand new episodes featuring the lovable characters.
The first episode apparently involves the Stooges’ time at an orphanage, where they (naturally) cause all kinds of kooky havoc and disruption. Cher was previously rumored to be involved with the role, but it looks like the powers-that-be have settled on Lynch. In addition to the aforementioned cast, Sofia Vergara is in talks for a leading female role in the film, though details on her character are unknown at this time. To catch up on the problematic history of the project, click here.
Armie Hammer in Talks to Join Johnny Depp in THE LONE RANGER
by Adam Chitwood Posted: April 27th, 2011
Merely a week ago, it was reported that Ryan Gosling was working on trying to fit Disney’s The Lone Ranger into his schedule, with the actor eyeing the title role opposite Johnny Depp’s Tonto. After quickly ending the talks, with Gosling unable to work the film around his schedule, we now have another actor in the running for the role: The Social Network’s Armie Hammer.
Deadline reports that Hammer is in early talks to join the project, with Gore Verbinski (the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films) at the helm. The story will supposedly focus on Depp’s Tonto, using him as an “unreliable narrator.” While the prospect of Gosling and Depp bantering in a fun adventure flick was enticing, Hammer seems to be a great choice as well. His fantastic work in The Social Network garnered him enough attention to secure a starring role in Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, which is currently filming, and the actor is also attached to Tarsem Singh’s Snow White flick.
Kristen Wiig, Anna Faris and Gillian Jacobs in the Running for Female Lead in THE DICTATOR Opposite Sacha Baron Cohen
by Adam Chitwood Posted: April 27th, 2011
Casting for the next Sacha Baron Cohen film The Dictator is heating up, with producers looking to fill the part of the female lead. Kristen Wiig, Anna Faris and Gillian Jacobs (Community) are among the frontrunners to play opposite Baron Cohen in the Borat-esque comedy. Larry Charles, who also helmed Borat and Bruno, is directing the film which tells the “heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed,” with Cohen playing a dictator who gets lost in the US.
THR reports that Jason Mantzoukas (The League) is already attached to play Cohen’s sidekick in the film. Producers are looking for actors with very strong improvisational skills, and understandably so given the unscripted nature of Borat and Bruno. The report stresses that Cohen and Co. are still looking to fill the female lead role, and it could very well end up going to someone other than Wiig, Faris or Jacobs. Filming is set to begin in May in New York and Morocco for a May 11th, 2012 release date.
David Lindsay-Abaire Adapting His Play GOOD PEOPLE for Focus Features; Frances McDormand to Star
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: April 27th, 2011
David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) opened Good People last month on Broadway, and he’s in negotiations to cash in the rave reviews for a script deal with Focus Features. 24 Frames hears Frances McDormand is attached to reprise her role as Margie Walsh from the stage production. Lindsay-Abaire, a Boston native, set the drama in the working-class, predominantly Irish neighborhood Southie. Margie is a high school dropout and single mother of a mentally disabled daughter who struggles to make ends meet. Tate Donovan (Damages) plays a successful former classmate of Margie’s — their relationship anchors the class politics explored in the production. It is not specified if Donovan or other cast members are involved in the talks with Focus; Dan Jinks (Milk) is on board as producer.
Hit the jump for the official synopsis and few clips from the play.
