Will Bruce Springsteen Appear In Judd Apatow's 'Funny People'?

Is Bruce Springsteen going to appear in Judd Apatow's upcoming relationship dramedy, "Funny People"?

We just got the script and haven't read it yet, but the good folks over at CHUD have and they're saying that Apatow has wrote in a scene that includes the Boss.

What's Springsteen doing in the scene?

Well, it's sort of a dream sequence where the Boss appears out of nowhere to give the protagonist George (Adam Sandler) some spiritual advice that ends up sounding like self-help talk. It's pretty amusing though. It's unknown if Apatow has reached out to Springsteen's people yet (the film doesn't shoot until the fall), but it would be pretty great if he did agree to the cameo.

A quick scan of the script also tells us there's references to Wilco (a concert), Warren Zevon (we knew he would eventually use him!), Otis Redding, Paul McCartney's "With A Little Luck," the introspective Ted Hawkins song, "Strange Conversation"and the Fergie song, "London Bridge," where a 10-year-old does an inappropriate gyrating dance to it (probably meant to be one of Apatow's kids). It's a typically long Apatow script too. Get ready for another two hour comedy with a lot of serious/sad overtones.

Bruce is everywhere these days in movies and has just finished writing (or is in the process of finishing) a song for Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler." PS, the story idea behind "Funny People" has been kept under wraps for a while, but an exec at Universal basically revealed it accidentally. Read more...

It's True! Mike Myers Enlisted As A British General In 'Inglorious Bastards'

Wait, is it career resuscitation time already? Doesn't Quentin Tarantino wait like 20 years to revive an ailing or perhaps non-existent career trajectory? We may have dodged a bullet with Adam Sandler, but we caught one square in the mouth with Mike Myers.

Yeah, that's right, those late-day rumors from yesterday turned out to be true. Mike Myers has been cast in Tarantino's "Inglorious Bastards," and we hate to continue being an apologist for QT's bad-taste, but it is a rather small role.

Myers will play General Ed Fenech, a British "a military mastermind who takes part in hatching a plot to wipe out Nazi leaders," says Variety. The plan is called "Operation Kino," and yesterday we thought that maybe Myers would play Winston Churchill, who does make a brief appearance in the film and we were close. Churchill's scene is the only one that also features Gen. Fenech. In this sequence, Fenech debriefs Lt. Archie Hicox (likely to be played by Simon Pegg; his character was a film critic before the war) and gives him his mission to rendezvous with the American 'Bastard' soldiers in Germany.

In the script, Fenech is supposed to be a whiskey drinking old George Sanders type circa the 1960 B-horror movie from Wolf Rilla's "Village Of the Damned,"

Is "Inglorious Bastards" officially off the rails now in its casting? Maybe we're naive, but the script has so much potential, we're holding out hope. And Fenech is literally on screen for about 4-5 pages. If Myers keeps it in check, the sequence will seem like a gratuitous and glorified cameo, but nothing to ruin the film with.

But weird that Tarantino is hiring all these comedians to play roles. Pegg makes sense, cause they're buddies and surely he'll play the role like his serious cop performance in "Hot Fuzz," but B.J. Novack, and now Myers? One thing's for sure, QT still has the juice to draw big names for small roles, cause people just want to appear in his films no matter what. What an oddball he is in casting. Shouldn't he have hired Myers ten years from now when he was doing "The Love Guru 4"? Read more...

Inglorious Sandler! Oh Man, Do Not Mess With Tarantino's Taste

Did you hear that sound? Wow, did we just dodge another Tarantino bad-taste bullet? Holy shit, yeah. And this one's so real it buzzed by our ear with that real sense of "holy shit," terror. Adam Sandler was actually almost in "Inglorious Bastards"! Damn, or at least it looks that way. Sandler was rumored to be one of the original actors Quentin Tarantino wanted to cast in this thing years ago, but then QT himself had squashed most of those rumors. Was that purposeful misinformation?

Because according to Sandler, who's doing press in Ireland for "You Don't Mess With Zohan," he met with Tarantino for one of the roles (obviously one of the Jewish Bastard soldiers), but had to turn it down because he was shooting a Judd Apatow film at the same time.
About meeting with Quentin, Sandler told RTÉ, "Yeah it's true. It is, and I read the script, it's fantastic. But I'm shooting at the very same time. I won't be able to do it. I'm doing a movie with Judd Apatow at the same time so that's not going to happen, but I did read it. It is awesome."

And apparently it was some kind of misinformation campaign as Sandler and Tarantino had been plotting this casting move for a while now. "I've known Quentin for a long time. We've been talking about doing it for years, for like five, six, seven years. Yeah, it's definitely disappointing. I'd love to do it, but I just can't."

Yeesh, this is all too real! Apatow's "Funny People" is shooting in the fall, the same time that "Inglorious Bastards" is scheduled to start principal production. God, Sandler as one of the soldiers next to Brad Pitt? God, why not just nuke the whole production while you're at it? We're pretty sure this is some kind of divine intervention cause God read the script too and he doesn't want to see Quentin fuck it up too further than he inevitably will on his own.

You'll recall that Tarantino had a role as a priest in Sandler's "Little Nicky" in 2000 in the days when the director still thought he had a shot at a acting career. And yes, someone's going to point out "Punch Drunk Love," but no, don't even. Stick to the vision goddamit!

Update: Dear lord, there was apparently a rumor going round that Corey Feldman was going to be cast in 'Bastards' as well but that report's been evidently quashed, thank baby jesus. Speaking of bad ideas, here's another rumor, Mike Myers will play a small role in 'Bastards'? Oh shit, does he want him to do his accent thingy and play Winston Churchill? (who yes, is in the script for a minute). Please god, no. Tarantino does have a soft spot for losers (Myers) and bad ideas so it could be true. Anything's possible with him, really. *Shudder*
Read more...

Did Universal Prez Accidentally Reveal Real Plot Of Judd Apatow's 'Funny People'?

Did Universal president Donna Langley inadvertently reveal the real plot of Judd Apatow's upcoming relationship dramedy, "Funny People," in an article with Portfolio.com?

The story plot has been under wraps, but this is what we know so far: it's semi-autobiographical story about stand-up comedians (Adam Sandler who stars and Apatow were both roommates and struggling stand-up comedians at one time), it's apparently "heartbreaking" in spots, and it focuses on a comic who has a "near-death experience."

Langley says Apatow is good at depicting "what if" stories. What if a 40-year-old Virgin got into a relationship? What if a slacker stoner got a beautiful girl pregnant (if you don't want to know the story, read no further, it's potentially spoiler-ish, but having read it, it doesn't seem like it'll spoil the experience, but that's us).

And for "Funny People"? "What if a very successful comedian thinks he's dying and then finds out he's not?" posited Langley. Sounds like the cat just got let out of the bag, huh? Is this a huge spoiler in the plot or just the logline they're keeping semi-secret? We'll find out soon enough, but Apatow shouldn't be too distressed apparently Universal went after him "aggressively, with a big jump in his directing fee."

The film also stars Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, the aforementioned Sandler and newer additions, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill. Shooting is supposed to start in the fall. Read more...

Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman & Jonah Hill Get 'Funny'; Join Judd Apatow's Stand-Up Relationship Dramedy

Damn, you knew Judd Apatow's self-written and directed upcoming relationship / stand-up comedian dramedy (now titled "Funny People,") would probably be rather decent, but man, his cast got just that much better.

Branching out a little past the Apatow family players troupe, the multi-hyphenate has tapped Eric Bana (already rumored), Jason Schwarzman and Jonah Hill to join an ensemble that already contains, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Adam Sandler (man, people must be taking pay cuts to work with Apatow, cause there's no way a regular comedy of his could afford all these people - this is the rumored way he does business anyhow).
The comedy /drama is filming in mid-September and eyeing a summer 2009 release. Apatow has kept most of the plot details under wraps, but some info has trickled out. We know it's semi-autobiographical (Sandler and Apatow were both roommates and struggling stand-up comedians at one time), we only recently learned it's about comedians, it's apparently "heartbreaking" in spots, and the newest bit of information is that it focuses on a comic who has a "near-death experience."

Bana may seem like an odd choice, but before he became Mr. dramatic actor Hollywood, the Australian actor was began his career as a stand-up comedian down under (now that seems odd, no?). None of the three newly cast roles have been defined, but our suspicion is Bana will be the main love rival to Leslie Mann (Apatow's real-life wife, who will play his movie-life wife; or at least she'll play Sandler's love interest who we're pretty sure is the surrogate Apatow in the film) and Hill and Schwartzman will be comedy-circuit stand-ups (good bet, no?)

Can the Apatow gravy train keep going and going? Man, even with a few chinks in the armor ("Drillbit Taylor," the not-mega, but decent success of 'Sarah Marshall'), they still seem pretty unbeatable and or at the very least the, 'let's get as many projects going as we can before it all falls apart,' idea is working rather well.
Read more...

Sandler Surprises And Returns To Form With 'You Don't Mess With Zohan'

Was it the utter lack of expectations? Was it the fact that we hadn't spoiled anything for ourselves, having only seen one basic trailer? Or was it that Judd Apatow/ Robert Smiegel factor (they co-wrote the film with the star)? Something is very wrong here: we really enjoyed the new Adam Sandler film, the Mossad-turned-hairdresser comedy "You Don't Mess With Zohan" (ever since Eric Bana in "Munich," Hollywood heebs have seemingly been obsessed with asserting their manhood rather than their Allen/Roth-like neurosis).

To say Sandler's recent comedies haven't been up to snuff lately would be like saying this year's Democratic nomination election was a tad long winded – it's a massive understatement. The fact is we've barely even seen them any of his recent flicks. We'll practically watch anything once on the movie pay channels for free, but lord knows we haven't been able to stomach more than 5-10 minutes of any Sandler related comedy since, "Mr. Deeds," (probably because of John Turturro) and before that the last straight-out funny film he had was "Happy Gilmore."

The movie's he's provided in the interim have been impossibly unfunny, insipid inanities that made you wonder aloud if he actually was mentally retarded. The joke were not only juvenile, they were flat and uninspired. There's nothing wrong with stoopid, puerile potty humor (see Zohan) if it's executed well, but Sandler's shtick had become downright embarrassing and actually, just not even worth noting or griping about - they were practically invisible.

So the impossibly silly, but immensely enjoyable 'Zohan,' was a surprisingly, fun, caught-off-guard treat. Sandler stars (obviously) as the titular, uber-macho, virile fighting machine – the Rambo of Israel and an elite member of the Mossad secret service. But after years of senseless fighting, particularly against his arch Arabic nemesis "The Phantom" (Turturro), Zohan grows tired of the vicious cycle and fakes his death so he can escape to New York city. There, the fighter can finally turn lover and fulfill his lifelong dream: to style hair in the "silky smooth" manner of his inspiration Paul Mitchell (but not before engaging in some massively staged, wildly preposterous, but highly amusing action sequences with Turturro – OK, we take it back, we get where the alleged $90 million went, damn; the film spares no expense, CGI is effortlessly doled out for any old gag – some filmmakers would be so lucky)

Zohan fumbles around New York, makes some Israeli friends and after many failed attempts, finally lands in a low-rent hair salon owned by a beautiful Palestinian girl ("Entourage" belle Emmanuelle Chriqui) – yes, he has to stoop that low.

From there the libidinous hairdresser develops a huge mom-styled, older lady clientele for his notoriously salacious coif-cutting appointments (crude scatological raunch sprayed everywhere challenging all forms of good taste and the limits of the PG-13 rating, but are so damn wrong, they're admittedly pretty hilarious at times; the running hummus gag being rather entertaining). The salon – always at risk of being gentrified out of existence by the local, money-grubbing blowhard (gentile) developers – is saved by the cash cow that becomes Zohan's obtruding package, but an eventual showdown can't help but happen.

The politics, while subversive for an Adam Sandler film, aren't going to challenge your average viewer, but considering his constituency and the lowest common denominator hum most of his films operate at, dare we say some of his devotees might even be confused. The comedic brushstrokes also chart at a relatively muted level, Rob Scheider – one of the world's worst culprits of broad, stereotypical farce – actually reigns in it (relatively) for his turn as an Arab cabbie obsessed with ousting Zohan and grabbing some Palestinian glory. And while yes, the comedy isn't seditious, quips about the Hezbollah phone line, the predictable breakdown in peace talks and the historic, yet complex levels of vengeance and retribution (“I’m just saying, it’s not so cut and dried!” one assassin shouts as he plummets to his death) leave both sides on the hook (the many digs at the expense of anti-semetic actor Mel Gibson are super humorous too).

There's a boatload of cameos: Mariah Carey plays an air-headed, bimbo singer (herself), rocker Dave Matthews portrays a white-trash racist hired to mess with the "towelheads," Smeigel pops up as a local mensch, Charlotte Rae (aka Mrs. Garett from "The Facts Of Life") is one of the many elderly women that the lascivious Zohan sexes up, and Chris Rock makes a quick cameo as a dreadlocked cabbie (and let us tell you, Rock can't do a Jamaican accent for shit).

Sandler's 'Zohan' isn't genius, and its naive, one-dimensional utopian finale (we're all just people, people!) is certainly not going to bring peace to the Middle East anytime soon, but for imbecilic comedy, that's relatively mature, you could do a lot worse. And hey, at least it wasn't "Semi-Pro." [B+] Read more...

I'm Writing Young and Gifted In My Autobiography: Judd Apatow's "Adult" Relationship Drama To Be Personal And "Heartbreaking" In Parts

If you know the backstory of Judd Apatow's life – before he was the hitmaking Mayor Comedy in Hollywood, he was a struggling stand-up comedian that once lived with Adam Sandler during the early lean years – it'll strike you as obvious that his next project, the still as-of-yet "untitled Sandler project," is going to take its cues from his personal life.

Sandler and Seth Rogen (the two principal leads) recently talked to MTV about the autobiographical-sounding film, that's expected to shoot in September, and Rogen revealed that the plot will center around, "stand-up comedians." Obviously this is exactly how Sandler and Apatow cut their teeth in the Hollywood comedy scene – by grinding it out in the trial-by-fire stand up clubs (So Sandler is the Apatow stand-in and Rogen is the Sandler surrogate, right? Must be Leslie Mann has already confirmed she'll be playing Sandler's love interest in the film. That's rather convenient and revisionist. ;)

Apatow is actually forcing Sandler to write a real stand-up routine for the film and the wacky comedian isn't totally pleased about it. "I've got to write an act again. It's been a long time. I haven't done stand-up in, like, 10 years. Even more," the MTV's fourth-ever Generation Award winner said. "That's why I want to kill Judd Apatow right now. I was so much happier doing nothing!"

Apparently you'll be able to see Sandler in L.A. comedy clubs this summer if you're lucky enough to catch what will surely be secret unannounced gigs. "You will see me bomb for 15 minutes and walk off [the stage] and punch Judd," Sandler joked to MTV.

Apatow has already hinted the film is going to be another comedy with heart and his most "adult" film to date, (“It’s a relationship movie," he told MTV in March. “It’s not a big high-concept movie. It’s hopefully going to be a very, very funny drama...a hilarious drama"), but Sandler warns there's going to be more of an emotional epicenter than we've seen before saying the film will be "pretty heartbreaking" in parts.

"It's very, very funny. [Me and] my friends who have read the script, all of us were baffled how funny it is," Sandler said. "But there's a lot of stuff going on in the movie. Every movie, I'm trying to find a way to go deeper, to tell stories about subjects that are important and make them less and less broad while making them equally as funny. [This film is] another step in that progression."

Update: Chud (via Slash) is reporting that Apatow wants to cast Eric Bana as Mann's boyfriend (we must that's before she eventually ends up with Sandler) which is pretty perfect considering there's a scene in "Knocked Up" where the dudes in the film go on a riff about the sexy bad-ass jewness of Bana in "Munich" ("If any of us get laid tonight, it’s because of Eric Bana in 'Munich' ," Jonah Hill joked in the movie). Great little image also via Slash.
Read more...

Various Permutations Of Adam Sandler's Manchild Idiot Routine To Be Feted At MTV Movie Awards

"Shampoo is better. I go on first and clean the hair. Conditioner is better! I leave the hair silky and smooth. Oh, really, fool? Really!"

The MTV Movie Awards will honor Adam Sandler with the MTV Generation award at their award ceremony on Sunday (June 1) - a prize generally awarded for comedians who have grown too old too for the desired audience demographic - for his outstanding achievements in the field of exceptional buffoonery.

Ok, as much as we rag on Sandler and the fact that he's played the same friggin' role essentially over and over again for all his career, his debut starring-vehicle "Billy Madison" is sheer unadulterated stoopid comedy genius and the clip below might be the funniest :35 seconds of comedy ever committed to film.

Read more...

Don't Mess With An Inflated Budget: 'Zohan' Cost $90 Million??

New York Times writer Dave Itzkoff used a piece about Adam Sandler's "You Don't Mess With Zohan" in this weekend's paper to discuss the subversive and sensitive politics of Israeli-Arab tensions embeded beneath the broader, farcical comedy we're normally used to from a Sandler comedy.

He writes, "What the ad campaign for 'Zohan' does not emphasize is that the film also attempts to satirize the continuing tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and provide humorous commentary on one of the least funny topics of modern times with a comedian who is not exactly known for incisive political wit."

In one section of the film, Arabs trying to take down Zohan (Sander) call the “Hezbollah Phone Line” for instructions on how to build a bomb. Much to their chagrin, they reach the voicemail that notifies them that the information is currently not available during peace talks with Israel, and they are instructed to call back “as soon as negotiations break down.”

“I’m not sure we do have permission,” said Robert Smigel, aka Triumph The Insult Dog, one of the film's screenwriters said about skewering the sensitive topic. “But we thought it would be a funny idea.”

But hold the phone, 'Zohan,' an Adam Sandler comedy cost a reported $90 million to make according to the Times? $90 million??? Sure, there's some car chases and maybe some funny rocket launcher scenes, but almost 100 mil? Does that not seem preposterous and completely over-indulgent for a comedy? Did 5 million alone go to Mariah Carey's wardrobe? Has hair-frosting gone way up in price? Was it spent on security for all the Israeli's and Arabs who were going to shell the production with mortars? We're confused.
Read more...

Mariah Carey Becomes A Significant Plot Point In The Otherwise Plotless 'You Don't Mess With Zohan'

Diva cougar Mariah Carey evidently has a small cameo as herself in the upcoming Adam Sandler comedy, "You Don't Mess With Zohan," which opens June 6. We all knew that Sandler played a Mossad agent who escaped to cut hair in New York City, but what we didn't know is that his character is apparently obsessed with Mariah Carey. Apparently the singer runs afoul with Zohan's former nemesis, The Phantom, launching him and his pals back into action. [Extra/JoBlo]

Who are the Best and Worst rappers turned actors? First Showing give us their list. Unsurprisingly, 50 Cent gets no love, but we're pretty sure David Simon is going to take umbrage with their low-rating of Method Man. [First Showing]

Jonah Hill is going to revamp "21 Jump Street"? Smells like the kiss of death and a good way to forfeit your good will with critics. Doood, don't do it! [EW]

Zach Synder wants your commercials. The "Watchmen" director is looking for aspiring filmmakers or TV commercial-makers to create 1980-era'd ads for "Veidt Enterprises" (the character Ozymandias' alter-ego is billionaire scientist Adrian Veidt, the film takes place in the eighties). The bonus is you could potentially see one of your commercials in the film, the rub is you probably won't make a dime and you'll have to sign over your life rights for its inclusion. Either way, the film is due March 6, 2009. [Details at PRNewswire]

The first shots of Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as former ex-con gay lovers in the film "I Love You Phillip Morris" have appeared at Cannes. IMDB synop: The movie is a true story of Steven Russell (Jim Carrey), a married father whose exploits landed him in the Texas criminal justice system. He fell madly in love with his cellmate (Ewan McGregor), who eventually was set free, which led Russell to escape from Texas prisons four times. [Cinematical]


Is David Cronenberg doing a English-language re-make of Nacho Vigalondo's 2007 film, "Time Crimes"? Wait, did someone say, nachos? We honestly never saw this thing, but you can see the original trailer here. [Cinematical]

Watch: Watchmen - Veidt Advertising Contest - Sample TV Spot #1

Watch: Mariah Carey on the set of 'Zohan'

Read more...

Someone (Zohan) Finally Capitalizes On The Borat-Like Qualities Of Otherwise Unredeemable M.I.A. Song

Remember the unfunny Judd Apatow/ Adam Sandler trailer for the film, "You Don't Mess With Zohan"? Well, there's a slightly new trailer now and it features M.I.A. song "Jimmy" that was surely meant as culturally deft cross-pollinated mash-up, but actually sounded like a bad Turkish disco song, ala something you would have totally heard in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

It's a pretty worthless song frankly (2, 3, 1, someone vehemently disagreeing with us), but the Sandler crew has put it to pretty excellent use in their trailer proving that even the ugliest of ducklings can find a home somewhere. The Apatow-extended crew seems to be loving M.I.A. these days. Either that or it's just coincidental that the "Pineapple Express" trailer is also featuring one of her multi-culti hip-hop mashes (the very excellent, "Paper Planes").

The new 'Zohan' trailer still looks largely unfunny, but hey, it is an Adam Sandler film. What did you expect? (And don't think this one will have much, if any of the trademark sweet/vulgar and semi-intelligent comedy of the Apatow films; it's a dumb beast unto its own)

Download: M.I.A. - "Jimmy"
Watch: new 'Zohan' trailer
Read more...

The Judd Apatow Gravy Train Keeps Rolling; Will He Finally Fail? Your Infodex File For The Next 2 Years

In September of 2007 we took a pretty exhaustive and thorough look at all the films that producer / writer/ director "#1 Smartest Man in Hollywood" Judd Apatow would be have a hand in for all of 2008 and some of 2009.

And of course seven months later and that list has expanded.

Yes, at some point he must die, at some point he has to fall flat on his face (later this year?), but it hasn't happened ... yet. Later this year we'll see five-fucking Apatow projects - is he set to crash and burn this year? Is it all too much? "Drillbit Taylor," with Owen Wilson (which comes out this weekend), the aforementioned 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (which comes out April 18), the Adam Sandler Mossad agent comedy, "You Don't Mess With Zohan" (arriving in June) and the doofus brothers comedy film reteaming Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, "Step Brothers." Oh and wait, let's not forget August with action-comedy "Pineapple Express."

But there's more on the way. Before we all begin the inevitable 2008 backlash, ask yourself this. If you had carte blanche to create all the stupid comedies you could with all your buddies and pals, wouldn't you too want to want to just charge forward and get as many of them done as you could before the studios wised up and shot you down? Coming to a theater not too soon...

Five Year Engagement
Another product from the exact team behind April's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" - writer-director Nick Stoller and writer-star Jason Segel - the film is described as (naturally) a "bawdy, couples comedy," about a... duh, five year engagement. Stoller says the film will essentially be an extension of the soon-to-be-released 'Marshall.' "If Sarah Marshall (played by Kristen Bell) and Jason's character had stayed together, this might be the sequel," he said. No female interest has been cast in the part yet.

The Untitled Muppet Movie
Forget Seth Rogen, apparently Segel is the new red-hot member of the Judd Apatow family players. The "Freaks & Geeks" star has never carried an Apatow film on his shoulders yet - see 'Sarah', but that will prove itself soon enough. So what's after 'Marshall'? Apparently Disney has tapped these two to revise "The Muppets" franchise with Kermit the Frog and company. No seriously. Apparently 'Sarah Marshall,' contains a funny musical performed by a Dracula puppets and the Mickey Mouse execs were impressed. Segel told MTV on Monday he was disappointed in the last couple Muppet films and wanted to return to the glory days, "“I just want to go take it back to the early 80’s, when it was about the Muppets trying to put on a show. That’s what I’m trying to bring back.”

Untitled Judd Apatow "Relationship" Comedy - Aka Apatow's Wife Does Adam Sandler
Very little is known about this film beside the basics and that's on purpose for "secretive script reasons." But we do know it's Apatow's follow-up to "Knocked Up," he wrote it himself, it's due to start shooting in the late summer/early fall and it stars many of his familiar players: the schlubby Seth Rogen, his wife Leslie Mann and his old roommate Adam Sandler. But in an Entertainment Weekly piece not yet online Mann recently revealed she'll be playing Sandler's love interest. Hey, so it's a raunchy comedy with heart, right? Update: Today Apatow confirms what we already suspected. “It’s a relationship movie," he told MTV. “It’s not a big high-concept movie. It’s hopefully going to be a very, very funny drama...a hilarious drama is what I’m going for.”

Then we have projects currently being shot, but no firm release date yet.

Year One
The first offering from the 2009 Apatow menu will likely be the Jack Black and Michael Cera vehicle, "Year One." Cera obviously starred in "Superbad," and it was only time before a mainstay like Black joined the fold (though he did have a brief cameo as the crazed motorcyclist in 'Anchorman' SCTV alum/Ghostbusters star Harold Ramis, who had a small role as Seth Rogen's dad in "Knocked Up," will direct and co-produce, and co-wrote the project with "The Office" scribes Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, based on his story (Owen Wilson is apparently an executive producer). The plot was under wraps for a few months there, but word got out that the film was a "biblical comedy" that featured "cavemen." The film will also see the return of McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse)!, love interest June Diane Raphael (episodes of "Flight of the Concords") and Oliver Platt, David Cross, Vinnie Jones and Juno Temple. "It’s about the old testament," Black said spilling the beans." I’m just a dude wandering through biblical times. I’m not a famous character that you would have heard of before. Me and Michael Cera are just sort of wandering through, and you get to see all these old stories from the Torah, told through Agnostic, sort of, eyes.”

Apatow in 2009 and Beyond
Projects a little bit further off the map include two by penned by Jonah Hill, "Middle Child" and "Pure Imagination" and three other Apatow films are apparently in development for 2009 and the bulk of them give side-players or extended Apatow family members a leading shot. They include an as of-yet untitled Steve Carrell project; "A Whole New Hugh" - a vehicle for "Daily Show" correspondent Ed Helms; the lawyers who give up their careers to become rappers comedy, "Attorneys At Raw" - a vehicle for 'Freaks' and "Undeclared" player David Krumholtz and the marine comedy, "The Recruiter" starring Romany Malco, the black Smart Tech employee of "40 Year Old Virgin."

Can we ride his dick any fucking harder?? Can we recycle our work any more (for those 3 people that pay attention) Hey, we're charting-project-happy and trying to be green, sue us. Read more...

Judd Apatow Shockingly Casts The Judd Apatow Players Troupe To Star In His 'Knocked-Up' Follow-Up

While we were busy degrading ourselves with the smallscreen medium of television, movie news actually happened today.

Mayor of Comedy Judd Apatow announced plans for his directorial follow-up to "Knocked-Up" and shockingly, the writer/producer/filmmaker looked to his Judd Apatow Family Players cast of familar faces for his lead actors including younger Apatow stand-in, the also-bearded and schlubby Seth Rogen, his wife Leslie Mann and his old buddy Adam Sandler (that's where we worry).

The still untitled flick commence production to start in late summer or early fall. Apatow is evidently the sole writer on this one and the plot is being kept under wraps.

The film will be a co-production between Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment, and we're going to make a wild stab that it'll be a vulgar, but sweet comedy with unrequited love under (and over) tones. Thank you Vulture for letting us steal your pictures, it's been a long day.
Read more...

Is Adam Sandler Going To Ruin Judd Apatow's Midas Touch With 'Zohan'?

Trailer says, "yes." Comedy producer/writer/mayor Judd Apatow's track record in recent years has been impeccable, but two actors that never need to appear in a film together: Adam Sandler and the dreadful Rob Schneider are starring in this thing unfortunately.

Despite being written by the impressive trio of Judd Apatow, Sandler and Robert Smigel ("Triumph The Insult Dog"), "You Don't Mess With Zohan," looks terribly unfunny (it's a film we called out when we looked at Apatow's many projects for 2009 and beyond).

'Zohan' centers around a Mossad agent (Sandler) who fakes his death so he can move to New York and become a hair stylist (ugh, simply retarded). Let's face it, this isn't going to be a traditional Apatow film, it's going to be a characteristically stupid Adam Sandler vehicle. Plan to skip it now.


Read more...

The Funnybone Domination Continues: What's Up Next For 'Mayor Of Comedy' Judd Apatow

"Superbad" did so friggin well this summer; completely exceeded expectations and over-performed to the extent that the Judd Apatow produced comedy might be looked as the "40 Year Old Virgin" underdog hit of 2007 (yet another Apatow vehicle).

With "Knocked Up" killin' it in the spring, "Superbad" being the summer sleeper hit and the rock biopic spoof "Walk Hard" for Ch