Over the last few days a number of actresses were testing for the female lead in the Steve Carell/Jim Carrey comedy, Burt Wonderstone. The list included Olivia Wilde, Judy Greer, Sarah Silverman, Michelle Monaghan, and Jessica Biel. An impressive grouping, no doubt, but I was clearly on the side of Silverman or Greer winning out. Over the weekend it came down to Silverman(who was awesome on The Rachel Maddow Show last week) and Wilde, and unfortunately the overused Wilde came out victorious. Aw shucks.
Well, there is some good news on the casting front. Steve Buscemi(Boardwalk Empire), always a welcome addition to any film, has joined up, filling one of the other major roles that had remained open. The film centers on Burt Wonderstone(Carell), a failing old school magician who splits from his longtime stage partner(Buscemi), but soon finds himself losing ground to a younger, hipper illusionist(Carrey). James Gandolfini will play the billionaire owner of the casino where Carell is employed, with Wilde playing his former assistant who gets in league with Carrey.
Don Scardino(30 Rock) is directing, with a first draft of the script written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein(Horrible Bosses), given new rewrite by Jason Reitman(Up in the Air). [THR]
