Casting Bits: Matt Dillon In 'Imogene;' Mireille Enos In 'Gangster Squad;' Stephanie Szostak In 'RIPD'

Here's a lovers and spouses collection of casting news, leading off with a nice change of pace report of an actor being cast as the 'love interest' for a major actress, rather than the other way around. After the break you'll find:

  • Matt Dillon will woo Anette Bening in Imogene,
  • The Killing actress Mireille Enos joins Gangster Squad,
  • Stephanie Szostak cozies up to Ryan Reynolds in RIPD,
  • and some of the Jersey Shore knuckleheads appear with famous fictional whackos The Three Stooges.
  • The comedy Imogene, to be directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (directors of American Splendor) is sounding pretty great, or at least full of potential, as Kristen Wiig plays a troubled playwright who fakes a suicide attempt in order to win back her ex, and is then given over to the custody of her gambling-addict mother (Annette Bening). Now Matt Dillon will be the 'eccentric' love interest of Bening. He says he's a CIA agent, but he might just be a little bit nuts. In other words, Dillon is perfect for the part. [Deadline]

    Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad is almost all cast, with Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo and Holt McCallany in the major and secondary roles. Now Mireille Enos from The Killing will play the pregnant wife of Brolin's character; she also has a hand in choosing the men of the gangster squad. [Variety]Red director Robert Schwentke is pulling together the last members of the cast for his 'undead cops' comic book adaptation R.I.P.D., which stars Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges. (The title stands for 'Rest in Peace Department,' and Reynolds plays a murdered cop who, alongside also-dead spirit cop Bridges, deals with recalcitrant spirits and tracks his murderer.) Stephanie Szostak will now play the still-living wife of Reynolds' character, "who can sense that he is still around and to whom he is trying to communicate with in regards to his murder." [THR]

    Finally, in news that is certain to have some effect on your desire to see the new Three Stooges film currently being assembled by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, we now know that Jersey Shore cast members Jenni "JWoww" Farley and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi have cameos in the film. Not as Stooges, or so I'm led to believe. Now excuse me while I go drink a can of self-tanner, in the hopes of ending this miserable existence. [Movieline]