Jim Carrey is set to breathe new life into Summit’s long-developing comedy Ricky Stanicky.  The film was initially written by Jeff Bushell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua) and begins when three teens pull a prank by burning down a house in their neighborhood.  The kids create a fake person to take the blame—“Ricky Stanicky”—and 20 years later are still using the alibi to get out of every uncomfortable situation.  When their wives finally force them to set up a meeting with Stanicky, they hire an actor to inhabit the personality.  Steve Oedekerk (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls) recently came onboard to re-write and direct the film, and the ensemble comedy is said to be in the same R-rated vein as The Hangover.

Hit the jump for more on the project, including details regarding Carrey’s casting.

Universal has picked up Matthew J. O’Neill’s spec script Bait and Switch as a possible starring vehicle for Mark Wahlberg.  According to Variety, Wahlberg will produce along with Scott Stuber, John Jacobs, and Stephen Levinson.  Plot details are being kept under wraps but I hope it concerns straight-laced detective Reginald Bait and his loose-cannon partner Larry Switch.  Then the movie becomes a costume drama.

Wahlberg is about to start shooting on the Seth MacFarlane R-rated comedy Ted with Mila Kunis and Joel McHale.  He’s also attached to star in David O. Russell’s adaptation of the video game Uncharted.