Casting Bits: Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy in ‘ID Theft’, Natalie Portman in ‘Adaline’, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally in ‘Gay Dude’

Posted on Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 by Angie Han

Breakout star Melissa McCarthy has signed up for ID Theft, which will team her with the ubiquitous but charming Jason Bateman. As suggested by the title, the comedy follows a man who becomes the target of identity theft. Bateman will play the victim, and McCarthy the thief. McCarthy’s role was originally written for a man, but Bateman (who’s also producing) pushed to cast McCarthy in the part after seeing her inspired, scene-stealing performance in Bridesmaids.

Shooting for ID Theft will begin April 2012, at the start of McCarthy’s hiatus from Mike & Molly. The script was originally written by Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness), and is currently in rewrites with Craig Mazin (The Hangover Part II). [Deadline]

After the jump, new gigs for Natalie Portman and Parks & Recreation lovebirds Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally.

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Casting Notes: Danny McBride Attached to ‘Used Guys’, Katherine Heigl Out Of ‘Adaline’, Gerard Butler In Antoine Fuqua’s ‘Afterburn’

Posted on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 by Russ Fischer

We just talked about the possibly-revived Neighborhood Watch; now here’s news on another sci-fi comedy that has been kicking around for a while. Used Guys was once meant to be directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents) with Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller starring as men “in a future run by women, where cloned male slaves are traded like cars.” Fox shut down the film when the budget started to escalate and most of the talent moved on to other projects.

Now Danny McBride is attached to the role Jim Carrey would have played. Little Miss Sunshine directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton were attached to direct last year, and they remain a part of the project. A small mention in Variety says that Fox is looking for a ‘scaled-down’ production, compared to the expensive Jay Roach version. No word on other cast attachments for now, including whether Ben Stiller, who stuck around when others bailed, is still part of the film. [The Playlist]

After the break, Katherine Heigl backs out of her next picture, and Gerard Butler teams up with Antoine Fuqua. Read More »

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