Burt Wonderstone

Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Zegers in Talks for THE COLONY; Gillian Jacobs Joins BURT WONDERSONE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 15th, 2012 at 8:32 pm

Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Zegers are in final negotiations to star in the sci-fi thriller The Colony.  I think you’ll like the logline: “A group of underground survivors after the next Ice Age fending off an invasion of feral cannibals.”  God gifted Fishburne that beautiful baritone voice to lend gravity to exactly this type of movie. Jeff Renfroe will direct from a script he co-wrote with Patrick Tarr, Pascal Trottier and Svet Rouskov.  Paul Barkin, Colin Brunton, Matthew Cervi, Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin are producing.  THR hears shooting on the $16 million independent production begins in Toronto next week.

Hit the jump for details on Gillian Jacobs‘ role in the Burt Wonderstone.

Set Photo Roundup: DOG FIGHT, BURT WONDERSTONE, LOVELACE, and LOW LIFE [Updated with James Franco as Hugh Hefner]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 27th, 2012 at 3:52 pm

We’ve got quite a few set photos to share with you today, involving everything from Zach Galifianakis as a Southern politician in Chinese robes to Olivia Wilde in a luchador outfit. Briefly:

• Dog Fight – Galifianakis and Will Ferrell star as rival politicians running for a congressional seat in a small North Carolina district.
• Burt Wonderstone – Steve Carell and Jim Carrey star as rival Las Vegas magicians constantly trying to one-up each other.
• Lovelace – Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard star as Linda Lovelace and her abusive husband Chuck Traynor in the biopic about the star at the center of the porn phenomenon Deep Throat.
• Low Life – Joaquin Phoenix, Marion Cotillard, and Jeremy Renner star in this story of a woman (Cotillard) who immigrates from Poland to the U.S. and is forced to become a prostitute once stateside.

Hit the jump to check out the photos. [Update: We've updated the article with the first images of James Franco as Hugh Hefner in Lovelace]

Jim Carrey Looks Familiar in BURT WONDERSTONE Set Photos

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 14th, 2012 at 1:41 pm

The dueling magician comedy Burt Wonderstone is currently filming in the magical land of mysticism that is Las Vegas, and some set photos from the pic have started to surface. Just the other day we brought you images that gave us our first look at stars Steve Carell, Olivia Wilde, and Steve Buscemi, and now we’ve got a glimpse of Jim Carrey’s very douchey-looking magician character. Carell stars as the titular Vegas magician who loses his partner and then has to compete with a hipper magician (Carrey). In the previous set photos, Carell’s character looked to be channeling David Blaine in a dangerous-looking trick. These images of Carrey evoke another popular mainstream “magician”: Criss Angel.

While the premise could easily be turned into a lame, cheap joke comedy, the cast involved here compounded with the ridiculous-looking set photos have me hopeful that we’re in for a really good time once Burt Wonderstone opens. Don Scardino (30 Rock) is directing, and Burt Wonderstone is set for release sometime in 2013. Hit the jump to see the set photos.

First Look at Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, and Olivia Wilde in BURT WONDERSTONE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 11th, 2012 at 8:56 am

Filming is currently underway on the comedy Burt Wonderstone starring Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Jay Mohr, James Gandolfini, and Olivia Wilde.  The story centers on a Las Vegas magician (Carell) who loses his partner and is then upstaged by a hipper magician (Carrey) doing dangerous and crowd-drawing tricks.  The first set photos from the movie show Carell’s eponymous character apparently trying to upstage his rival by aping David Blaine‘s boring non-magic.  The costumes and make-up look very “Vegas” and perhaps Wonderstone will actually try to escape from his predicament rather than sit there with people gazing up at what Chris Rock called “a trickless magician.”

Hit the jump to check out the set photos.  Burt Wonderstone is due out in 2013.

Jessica Biel in Talks for Indie EMANUEL AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES; Jay Mohr Joins Comedy BURT WONDERSTONE Opposite Steve Carell

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 3:45 pm

We’ve got a couple of casting stories to share with you this afternoon. First up, Jessica Biel is in final negotiations to join the indie Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes. Directed by Francesca Gregorini (Tanner Hall), the film stars Kaya Scodelario (Clash of the Titans) as a troubled 17-year-old named Emanuel who agrees to babysit her new neighbor Linda’s “baby”, though the baby turns out to actually be a life-like doll. “She goes along with the delusion while befriending Linda, who happens to be the splitting image of Emanuel’s late mother.”

Variety reports that Biel is in talks to play Linda, who is traumatized by the death of her child and has been caring for the doll as a means of coping. Rooney Mara, who starred in Tanner Hall, was originally set to play Emanuel, but was forced to drop out when production was moved to early 2012. Biel recently wrapped the Total Recall remake. Hit the jump for casting news regarding the Steve Carell-Jim Carrey comedy Burt Wonderstone.

Brad Garrett In Talks for BURT WONDERSTONE; Mark Moses Joins Season 2 of THE KILLING

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 9:35 pm

Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) is in talks to join the comedy Burt Wonderstone, which tells the story rival magicians in Las Vegas.  Steve Carell stars as a more traditional magician who is upstaged by a hip, dangerous illusionist played by Jim Carrey.  The impressive cast also features James Gandolfini, Olivia Wilde, and S teve Buscemi.  According to THR, Garrett will play Carrell’s accountant, at least until the magician fires him.  Director Don Scardino (30 Rock) is gearing up for a January start date.

Hit the jump for details on Mark Moses‘ role in the upcoming second season of The Killing.

Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi Join Magician Comedy BURT WONDERSTONE [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 31st, 2011 at 12:43 pm

The magician comedy Burt Wonderstone has found its female lead, and is getting a boost from a fantastic character actor. After mulling over a number of actresses that reportedly included Sarah Silverman, Judy Greer, Jessica Biel, and Michelle Monaghan, THR reports that Olivia Wilde has won the lead female role opposite Steve Carell and Jim Carrey. The film centers on a Las Vegas magician (Carell) who breaks up with his partner and is then upstaged by a hipper magician (Carrey) doing dangerous and crowd-drawing tricks.

THR reports that Steve Buscemi is also in talks to join the cast as Carell’s former partner. Don Scardino (30 Rock) is directing, with a script by Horrible Bosses scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (and a polish by Jason Reitman). James Gandolfini is also set to star as a Vegas casino owner. While I had been pulling for Greer to land the female lead, Wilde is by no means a bad choice and Buscemi is a much-welcomed addition. Production on Burt Wonderstone is set to begin in January. [Update: Deadline reports that while Wilde may end up with the role, Greer and Silverman are still in the mix and the studio is waiting to see if Biel reads for the role, so it sounds like the female lead isn't locked as of yet.]

James Gandolfini in Talks to Join Steve Carell and Jim Carrey in BURT WONDERSTONE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 29th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

James Gandolfini is headed to Vegas. Variety reports that the Sopranos star is in negotiations to join the magician comedy Burt Wonderstone. The film stars Steve Carell as “half of a once-successful Las Vegas magic duo that must reunite to square off against a hot shot street magician (Carrey) whose tricks are often dangerous.” Gandolfini is eyeing the role of the billionaire owner of the casino where the title character and his partner perform. Just a few days ago we reported that Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Judy Greer, Sarah Silverman, and Jessica Biel were up for the female lead, but Variety’s report says the role is now down to just Wilde and Silverman. Don Scardino (30 Rock) is directing the pic, which was penned by Horrible Bosses scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein with a polish by Jason Reitman. Production is scheduled to star in January, after which Carrey may or may not be returning for a Dumb and Dumber sequel.

Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Judy Greer, Sarah Silverman, and Jessica Biel Up for BURT WONDERSTONE Female Lead

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 27th, 2011 at 11:53 am

Because we know you can’t get enough of shortlist stories, we’ve got yet another line-up of actresses vying for a role. Today the film in question is the magician comedy Burt Wonderstone starring Steve Carell and Jim Carrey. Deadline reports that Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Judy Greer, Sarah Silverman, and Jessica Biel are all on the short list for the female lead in the Las Vegas-centered comedy. The film tells the story of a Vegas magician (Carell) who is upstaged by a younger, more hip magician (Carrey) after breaking up with his partner. Nevermind that Carell and Carrey are the same age.

While all the actresses mentioned are find leading ladies in their own right, no one comes close to the comedic talents of Greer in my mind. She’s been shining in supporting roles left and right for years (just thinking about her stint on Arrested Development makes me crack a smile), and it’d be great to see her go toe-to-toe with Carell and Carrey. Jason Reitman was recently commissioned to do “several weeks worth” of work on the script, previously written by Horrible Bosses scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.

Jim Carrey in Talks to Star Opposite Steve Carell in BURT WONDERSTONE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 11th, 2011 at 4:33 pm

In quite the comedic pairing, Jim Carrey is currently in negotiations to star opposite Steve Carell in the magician comedy Burt Wonderstone. The story centers on a Las Vegas magician (Carell) who finds himself upstaged by a young, hip magician after breaking up with his partner. Don Scardino, one of the principal directors on NBC’s 30 Rock, is handling directing duties. Deadline reports that Carrey is in talks to join the cast, but there are no details as to what role Carrey will take on. Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) was recently commissioned to do “several weeks worth” of work on the script. The previous draft was written by Horrible Bosses scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.

Carrey and Carell would make a pretty great comedic duo, and the goofy magician premise seems right up their alley. This would be Carrey’s first role after this summer’s Mr. Popper’s Penguins, which performed fairly well at the box office. He’s been rumored for the music-oriented pic Can a Song Save Your Life? but we haven’t heard anything about his involvement since June. Carell was recently cast as the lead in Bennett Miller’s John du Pont film Foxcatcher.

Exclusive: Screenwriters John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein Talk HORRIBLE BOSSES, BURT WONDERSTONE, OF ALL THE THINGS, VACATION Reboot, and More

by Christina Radish    Posted: July 8th, 2011 at 8:57 am

Screenwriting partners John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein may have come from very different backgrounds (Daley from being an actor and Goldstein from being a lawyer), but their shared sense of humor and ability to collaborate with ease is what’s brought them the success that they’re currently experiencing in Hollywood. Clearly on a roll, with the hilariously raunchy comedy Horrible Bosses out this week, and a long list of upcoming and in-development projects, they are clearly a writing team to keep an eye on.

In this exclusive interview with Collider, John Francis Daley (Dr. Sweets on the Fox series Bones and Sam Weir on cult favorite Freaks & Geeks) and Jonathan Goldstein talked about how they came onto Horrible Bosses, which had been in limbo since 2005, how having the same sense of humor strengthens their work, what it was like to see the incredible cast bring their words to life, and how impressed they were with the lengths the actors went to for comedy. They also talked about their desire to direct (they just did a Funny or Die short), what it’s like to collaborate with Steve Carell on two upcoming projects – Burt Wonderstone and Of All The Things, their desire to reboot the Vacation franchise, developing a project with Steven Spielberg (Cal of the Wild), and how they hope to continue to diversify their portfolio so that they’re not just known for one thing. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Jason Reitman to Play Doctor to BURT WONDERSTONE Script Starring Steve Carell

by Bill Graham    Posted: June 16th, 2011 at 9:23 pm

If you are going to have someone touch up your script, Oscar-nominated writer/director Jason Reitman (Up In The Air) isn’t a bad choice. While he is busy working on his next film, New Line has tapped Reitman to tweak the script for Burt Wonderstone starring Steve Carell. THR notes that Reitman has been hired for “several weeks’ worth of work,” though it’s unknown if it is just a touch up or complete overhaul. I guess it really comes down to what you think “several” means in this case, and how much time Reitman gives to the film. The film follows Carell, a traditional magician in Las Vegas that loses his partner and has to compete with a younger, hipper magician. For more on Burt Wonderstone and what Reitman currently has on his plate, hit the jump.

Don Scardino to Direct BURT WONDERSTONE Starring Steve Carell

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 2nd, 2011 at 3:24 pm

In magician-comedy movie news, New Line has tapped Don Scardino to make his feature directorial debut on Burt Wonderstone. Starring Steve Carell, the film revolves around a magician in Las Vegas who, after losing his partner, must compete with a new, hipper magician who appears on the strip and starts making waves. Back in February, we reported that TV director Charles McDougall had been set to direct the film, but now Deadline reports that he’s been replaced by Scardino.

A fellow television director, Scardino currently serves as one of the principal directors on NBC’s 30 Rock. He’ll be working from a script by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses), who wrote the most recent draft after Chad Kultgen’s first pass at the screenplay. Production is set to begin this October in Los Angeles.

Charles McDougall to Direct BURT WONDERSTONE Starring Steve Carell

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 24th, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Charles McDougall has signed on to direct the comedy Burt Wonderstone. The film stars Steve Carell as a Las Vegas magician who must rediscover his mojo in order to compete with a younger rival. Chad Kultgen penned the original script, and John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses) wrote the current draft. THR reports that the film is set to shoot this fall. Before conjuring up Wonderstone, Carell will shoot Great Hope Springs with Meryl Streep.

McDougall has had a successful career in directing TV, including episodes of The Office (the US version), Parks and Recreation, and won an Emmy for directing the pilot of Desperate Housewives.

Steve Carell May Make Some Magic in BURT WONDERSTONE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 23rd, 2010 at 3:28 pm

Steve Carell is circling the comedy Burt Wonderstone and may shoot it during his brief hiatus from The Office this October.  According to 24 Frames, “The New Line comedy is about a Vegas magician who accidentally kills his partner and must regain his mojo (or, as the logline has it, his “hocus-pocus focus”) while simultaneously competing with a rival.”  The script was written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the duo behind the dark comedy Horrible Bosses starring Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, and Kevin Spacey.

Carell is leaving The Office for good at the end of this season and he has plenty of films lined-up.  He’s attached to the comedies Mail-Order Groom (where he’ll reunite with Tina Fey), Get Smart 2 (which he also wrote) Hi-T, Raised by Wolfs, The Abstinence Teacher, and A Boyfriend for My Wife.  Carell will next be seen in theaters next April in Crazy, Stupid Love, which costars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

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