Mark Wahlberg seems to be becoming quite fond of the comedy genre.  He’s got a promising turn in Seth MacFarlane’s upcoming R-rated comedy Ted and he’s currently filming Michael Bay’s black comedy Pain and Gain, and now Deadline reports that he’s in talks to star in the long-gestating laugher Avon Man.  The project was previously set up with Hugh Jackman starring and Kevin Lima (Enchanted) directing, but that iteration fell apart when Jackman left to do The Wolverine (which was eventually pushed back when Darren Aronofsky dropped out).  Now Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson are coming aboard the project as producers to develop it as a starring vehicle for Wahlberg, but Lima is no longer attached to direct.

The story kicks off with a group of guys who are laid off from an auto dealership.  One of them (Wahlberg) reluctantly becomes an Avon salesman and, when his charm brings him great success in the Avon world, convinces his macho unemployed buddies to join him.  Michael McCullers (Baby Mama) will write a new draft of the script.  When Wahlberg’s given the right comedic material he shines, so hopefully Avon Man plays to his strengths.