Judd Apatow

First Image and New Details on Judd Apatow’s KNOCKED UP Spinoff, THIS IS FORTY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 16th, 2012 at 8:39 am

The first image has gone online from Judd Apatow‘s Knocked Up spinoff, This Is Forty.  Apatow’s latest comedy brings us back to Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) and the comic trials and tribulations of their marriage.  The movie will pick up several years after Knocked Up and show the couple facing new challenges.  Per the LA Times, “Pete’s music label is struggling and Debbie’s vanity business, a dress shop staffed by the comely Desi (Megan Fox) and the awkward Jodi (Charlyne Yi), needs to help cover the household budget.”  Mann and Apatow’s real-life daughters, Maude and Iris Apatow, will be reprising their Knocked Up characters as well.  I wonder if Iris’ character still likes Green Day.

Hit the jump to see the full image and to learn more about the upcoming comedy.  This Is Forty opens December 21st.

Universal May Do BRIDESMAIDS Sequel without Kristen Wiig

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 4th, 2012 at 11:11 am

Kristen Wiig co-wrote her own breakthrough role in last year’s Bridesmaids.  The film is Universal’s highest-grossing romantic comedy ever and naturally the studio would love to have a sequel.  However, Wiig tells THR, “We aren’t working on that.  Annie [Mumolo] and I aren’t planning a sequel. We are writing something else.”  There’s some speculation that Wiig and her co-stars were unhappy with the $100,000 bonus they received for the movie even though it ended up grossing $288 million worldwide.  Universal reportedly offered Wiig and eight-figure payday to return, but she declined the offer and now the studio is looking to hang the sequel on Bridesmaids‘ other breakout star, Melissa McCarthy.

Hit the jump for more.

Teaser Trailer for New HBO Series GIRLS from Executive Producer Judd Apatow

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 8:15 am

A teaser trailer for a new comedy series on HBO called Girls has been released. The show comes from creator/star Lena Dunham and executive producer Judd Apatow and centers on the experiences of a group of girls in New York in their 20s. The trailer actually looks pretty funny, as the series aims to be everything Sex and the City wasn’t. Dunham’s self-deprecation and pessimism is spot-on and a nice change from the comedic douchiness of Entourage. Besides Funny or Die Presents…, Apatow hasn’t worked in television since his college-centered series Undeclared which ended in 2003, so it’ll be interesting to see if Girls has the same tone as that show and the critically lauded Freaks and Geeks. The HBO series is set to premiere in April. Hit the jump to check out the teaser.

More Synopses for Universal 2012 Films Including SAVAGES, DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX and Untitled Judd Apatow Comedy; Title Change for EVERYBODY LOVES WHALES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 11:17 am

Earlier this year, we posted the first synopses for a few of Universal Pictures’ films slated for release next year. Today, we’ve got a few more synopses to share with you from some the studio’s upcoming slate. Included is Oliver Stone’s drug-smuggling drama Savages, the 3D animated feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, and the Knocked Up spinoff Untitled Judd Apatow Comedy. Additionally, we have a new synopsis and a title change for Big Miracle, the Drew Barrymore-starred family film that was formerly titled Everybody Loves Whales.

Hit the jump for a rundown of the cast and synopsis for each film. Big Miracle opens February 3, 2012, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax opens March 2, 2012, Savages opens September 28, 2012, and Untitled Judd Apatow Comedy opens December 21, 2012.

Exclusive: Megan Fox Talks FRIENDS WITH KIDS, Video Games, Comic Book Movies, THE DICTATOR, Judd Apatow, TRANSFORMERS 3, More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 9:11 am

One of the things I love about Megan Fox is her honesty.  While many celebrities are careful with their answers, if you ask Megan Fox a question, she’ll always tell you exactly what she thinks.  So when I sat down with her a few days ago at the Toronto Film Festival for an exclusive interview for writer-director Jennifer Westfeldt’s Friends With Kids (which premiered at TIFF and is really good),  I knew it was going to be a great interview.

During our twenty minute conversation we talked about Friends With Kids, how she got involved in Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator, Judd Apatow’s untitled project (also known as This is Forty), her thoughts on doing more comic book movies and what she wants to do in the future.  In addition, we talked about whether she had seen Transformers 3, karaoke, Twitter, Facebook and social networking (she didn’t pull any punches on her thoughts), revealed she’s a hard core gamer and you might find her online playing Halo Reach, her Giorgio Armani campaign, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.

Megan Fox Reveals Jason Segel Is Co-Starring in Judd Apatow’s THIS IS FORTY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 22nd, 2011 at 9:19 am

It looks like the Knocked Up spin-off This Is Forty will get getting another cast member from the original.  Megan Fox posted a picture of her on the set in a swimming pool with co-stars Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids) and Jason Segel.  As you’ll recall, Segel played one of the friends of Seth Rogen’s character in Knocked Up. He’ll be joining stars Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann who are reprising their roles as married couple Pete and Debbie in the Judd Apatow comedy, which Rudd recently said is a “companion piece” to Knocked Up and not a sequel.

Segel will also be starring alongside returning cast member Charlene Yi as well as Albert Brooks, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham, Melissa McCarthy, Ryan Lee, and Wyatt Russell.  This Is Forty is set to open in December 2012. [Update: Apparently there have been set photos of Segel on set with Mann.  I never saw those, hence this story.]

Paul Rudd Confirms Judd Apatow’s New Movie is Tentatively Called THIS IS FORTY; Reveals Details

by Hunter Daniels    Posted: August 8th, 2011 at 4:41 pm

This past weekend I sat down Paul Rudd to discuss his new independent comedy, Our Idiot Brother, which hits theaters at the end of the month. We’ll have the full interview closer to the release date, but right now we have a tiny scoop on Judd Apatow’s upcoming companion piece to Knocked Up.  Rudd reveals that the current working title is This is Forty and confirms Charlyne Yi will be returning.  He went on to tell us it’s not a sequel and that we’ll see both new and returning characters.  However, since they’re still filming, Rudd said he’s not exactly sure who will end up in the film.  For more details on the project, hit the jump.

Melissa McCarthy and Ryan Lee Join Judd Apatow’s Untitled KNOCKED UP Spin-Off

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 7th, 2011 at 12:27 pm

After seeing Bridesmaids, audiences and critics who enjoyed the film tended to agree that Melissa McCarthy would be one of the breakout stars of the year.  That easy prediction is already coming true with McCarthy and Bridesmaids co-write Annie Mumolo selling a pitch to Paramount, and McCarthy being rumored to co-star with Jon Hamm in a new Paul Feig/Judd Apatow comedy.  McCarthy will certainly be working with Apatow again, but he’ll be directing her in his untitled Knocked Up spin-off starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann.  THR reports that McCarthy will play a mom at the school where Rudd and Mann’s children attend and that Super 8 co-star Ryan Lee will play her son.

The untitled comedy also stars Albert Brooks, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham, Charlene Yi, and Wyatt Russell.  The film is set to open in December 2012.

 

BRIDESMAIDS Becomes Highest Grossing R-Rated Female Comedy Ever

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 4th, 2011 at 3:14 pm

Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids is the little comedy that could. Despite a modest budget and no A-list stars, the Judd Apatow-produced film has been a consistent staple on the box office charts week after week. Now, after recently becoming the highest grossing entry in Judd Apatow’s library, Bridesmaids has become the highest grossing R-rated female comedy ever (via THR). The film’s current domestic tally sits at $152.9 million, enough to dethrone the previous “top R-rated female comedy” record-holder Sex and the City (apparently the term “comedy” has a loose connotation).

The script by star Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo hit that sweet spot of insane hilarity paired with a sizeable amount of heart. The film also owes a great amount of its success to director Feig (Freaks and Geeks) and the tour-de-force cast that includes Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Jon Hamm, Chris O’Dowd and stand-out Melissa McCarthy. If you’ve yet to see Bridesmaids, you’ve definitely missed out on one of the funniest movies of the year.

Casting Call: Scarlett Johansson in CAN A SONG SAVE YOUR LIFE?, Jake T. Austin is Huck in TOM SAWYER & HUCKLEBERRY FINN, Mia Maestro Joins SAVAGES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 28th, 2011 at 4:21 pm

We’ve got a few casting stories for you this evening. First up, Scarlett Johansson is set to star in John Carney’s (Once) music-oriented film Can a Song Save Your Life?. The Sunday Business Post Online (via The Playlist) reports that Judd Apatow will produce the pic, which centers on “a washed-up A&R man who forms a passionate bond with a young singer-songwriter (Johansson) from out of town.” Carney wrote the screenplay, and Mark Ruffalo and Jim Carrey have been rumored for the male lead. Filming begins in New York next year.

Additionally, Wizards of Waverly Place star Jake T. Austin has landed the role of Huck Finn in Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. Joel Courtney (Super 8) is in talks to take on the role of Tom Sawyer. Variety reports that Austin is in final negotiations to star in the adaptation of the Mark Twain classic, which Jo Kastner is directing with filming expected to get underway this August in Bulgaria. Hit the jump for the casting news of Mia Maestro joining Oliver Stone’s Savages.

Is the New Judd Apatow/Paul Feig Comedy Made for Jon Hamm and Melissa McCarthy?

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 15th, 2011 at 3:27 pm

A little over a week ago, we reported that Universal was reuniting with producer Judd Apatow and director Paul Feig following on the heels of their hit comedy Bridesmaids. The only thing we knew about the project at that time was that Feig had worked on the material (described as an “unconventional love story”) for some time and that Universal loved the pitch (and the success of Bridesmaids) enough to acquire it. While we don’t have a ton of new details on the untitled project today, we do have a casting rumor that has peaked my interest. According to Deadline, the project is about a “guy who becomes obsessed with a woman” with the male and female leads being drawn up with Bridesmaids co-stars Jon Hamm and Melissa McCarthy in mind.  More after the jump.

Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham, Charlyne Yi and Wyatt Russell Join Judd Apatow’s KNOCKED UP Spin-Off

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 7th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

Judd Apatow is filling out the cast for his next directorial effort, with Bridesmaids star Chris O’Dowd, Lena Dunham (director of Tiny Furniture), Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up) and Wyatt Russell currently in negotiations to join the untitled ensemble comedy. Written by Apatow, the film is a spinoff of sorts from his 2007 comedy Knocked Up, focusing on Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann’s characters. Variety reports that O’Dowd and Dunham will play employees of Rudd’s indie record company, Russell will portray a hockey player, and Yi will reprise her role as Jodi from Knocked Up.

The cast for the untitled comedy currently includes Rudd, Mann, Megan Fox and Albert Brooks. O’Dowd is just coming off the massive success of the Apatow-produced Bridesmaids. His turn as Wiig’s love interest in the film has him fielding a flood of offers, and deservedly so. No other plot details on Apatow’s flick are known at the moment, but it’s set to be released in December 2012.

Universal Reunites with Judd Apatow and Paul Feig on Untitled Comedy

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 7th, 2011 at 3:15 pm

Following on the heels of the critical and financial success Bridesmaids, Universal has decided it wants back on the Judd Apatow/Paul Feig express. Deadline reports that the studio has acquired a comedy pitch from the pair with Feig set to write and direct and Apatow on board to produce. Although the project is being acquired in the pitch stage, the report claims that Feig has been working on the material (described as an “unconventional love story”) for some time meaning that moviegoers could be getting a look at the pic sooner rather than later. While the overwhelming success of Bridesmaids is definitely a motivator (at least from Universal’s perspective), it should also come as no surprise to see Feig and Apatow working together again so quickly as the former told us in an interview last month that he believes Apatow “has one of the greatest minds for that, that I’ve ever seen, as a storyteller and knowing character.” Greatest mind or not, I will take a comedy from Paul Feig and Judd Apatow over a majority of mainstream fare all day long.

BRIDESMAIDS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 13th, 2011 at 7:25 am

The takeaway from Bridesmaids shouldn’t be “Look!  Women can be raunchy too!  Equality!”  If Bridesmaids simply featured a bunch of women engaging in gross-out humor, it would be a tiresome, soulless exercise just as gross-out humor between guys is a chore if you don’t care about the guys.  What makes Bridesmaids work isn’t just that some sophomoric gags are expertly timed and executed.  Bridesmaids comes alive because of rich characters and tremendous performances, particularly from co-writer and star Kristen Wiig and co-star Melissa McCarthy.  While the film does begin to drag its main character a little too low in the third act and there are some pacing problems in its romantic subplot, Bridesmaids is ultimately heartfelt, witty, and damn funny.

Kristen Wiig, Dirtector Paul Feig and Producer Judd Apatow Interview BRIDESMAIDS

by Christina Radish    Posted: May 9th, 2011 at 9:10 pm

Everybody who’s ever been to a wedding has a crazy story, whether it involves a disastrous bridal shower, horrid dress shopping, an out of control bachelorette party, a cake mishap or an aggressive best man. In the new comedy Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig plays Annie, the maid of honor for Lillian (Maya Rudolph), her lifelong best friend. Though completely broke, Annie dives into all of the required wedding rituals, trying to keep up with the other bridesmaids, including her rival Helen (Rose Byrne), who is perfectly poised to do anything that Annie can’t. As Annie keeps coming up short in all areas of the wedding, her own life spirals further and further out of control, in an escalating series of disasters.

At the film’s press day, actress/co-writer/co-producer Kristen Wiig, along with director/executive producer Paul Feig and producer Judd Apatow, talked about how much fun it was to make the film, deciding on the right title that didn’t give the wrong impression, ruining many takes by laughing, and what they love about working with each other. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

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