Bas Rutten

Salma Hayek Eyed for Lead in Kevin James’ MMA Film

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 11th, 2010 at 8:03 pm

Actor Kevin James is quickly becoming the Rob Schneider of the 2000′s. After last year’s Paul Blart: Mall Cop (“Kevin James is a mall cop”), and 2011′s Zookeeper (“Kevin James is a zookeeper”), it’s looking like the actor’s next project will be “Kevin James is a mixed martial arts fighter” (not to be outdone by the upcoming “Kevin James is a valet guy”).  Pajiba reports that James’ Grown Ups co-star Salma Hayek is being eyed for the lead female role.  The Sony Pictures comedy is being written by screenwriter Allan Loeb (The Switch), and centers on a physics teacher who moonlights as a MMA fighter in order to save the job of the school’s music teacher.

Professional MMA fighter (and Zookeeper voice-over co-star) Bas Rutten is also reportedly in talks for a role in the film. No director is currently set for the untitled MMA project. James will next be seen in Ron Howard’s The Dilemma, which opens on January 14, 2011, followed by Zookeeper on July 8, 2011.

Adam Sandler, Cher, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, and Sylvester Stallone Speak for THE ZOOKEEPER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 pm

When I read previous log-lines for Kevin James and Rosario Dawson’s upcoming “comedy”, “The Zookeeper”, I didn’t know the animals actually talked.  I was under the impression that the premise of “animals teaching their caretaker methods of dating and mating” was to be done through body language and skillful editing.

But because the premise of having a guy like Kevin James win over a woman like Rosario Dawson through the help of zoo animals isn’t outlandish enough, the animals actually talk.  With celebrity voices.  There will come a day when we will no long be able to devise an exaggerated parody of Hollywood product and that day will most likely be the one when “The Zookeeper” hits theatres.

According to Variety, the following celebrities either need money/want to be in a film their kids can enjoy/hate you: Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow.  Nick Nolte, Jim Breuer, Faizon Love and Bas Rutten are also in negotations to join with Nolte voicing a gorilla.  Nolte will not be aware of his participation in the film but rather, someone will just follow him around with a tape recorder and edit accordingly.

With this soul-crushing news, the most we can hope for now is that during filming, Kevin James is eaten by one of the animals which will be by far the funniest thing James ever did in his career.

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