the industry

Jason Sudeikis to Woo Jennifer Aniston, Unsuccessfully

SNL Star: Jason Sudeikis has joined the cast of Bounty Hunter. Gerard Butler stars as the title character, a hunter tracking down his ex-wife (played by Jennifer Aniston) who has jumped bail. Sudeikis will play a work friend of Aniston’s character who believes he is her boyfriend and is chasing her down as well. If dude keeps up these type of big Hollywood comedies, he might give Zach Galifianakis a run for his money as the most famous funny person with a hard-to-spell, probably Greek, last name. [HR]

Blue Is His Color: Samuel L. Jackson will star in the indie thriller Mixed Blood, an adaptation of Roger Smith’s novel, to be directed by Philip Noyce. The plot revolves around a fugitive making violent choices to protect his family while being chased down by kidnappers, corrupt cops, and a detective played by Jackson. Yes, we’re thinking the same thing — Sam Jackson as a cop? Really? [Variety]

Parental Control: Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston are joining the cast of The Last Song as Miley Cyrus’s parents. The plot revolves around a rebellious teen sent to live with her estranged father for the summer, where they reconnect over their love of music. The movie is based on a Nicholas Sparks book, apparently specifically written in order to be adapted into a movie for Cyrus to star in. Sounds great! [Variety]

Bride Wars: Bride of Frankenstein is on track for a big-screen remake. Neil Burger (The Illusionist) is in talks with Universal to write and direct a new version of the 1935 flick. Apparently, American Splendor’s Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini were originally attached to write the screenplay for this remake; their take would have been set in modern New York, with a young woman dying and being brought back to life unnaturally. That’s great news for movie nerds — they can get a head start on pining for the never-made version of Bride way before they start bashing the one that actually exists. [HR]

Red Dawning: Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki have been cast in the remake of Red Dawn, the 1984 movie about about a group of kids leading an insurgency when their town is invaded by Russian and Chinese soldiers. Peck will take on the Charlie Sheen role as Matt Eckert, the younger brother of the group’s leader, Jed; Palicki will play Toni, in the original Jennifer Grey role as Jed’s romantic interest. This is Peck’s first big role since hip-hop coming-of-age flick The Wackness. We just pray he has not forgotten how to bring that funky-fresh flavor to the big screen. [HR]

Ullman’s Back: Noted impressionist Tracey Ullman’s Showtime show State of the Union has been picked up for a third season. In related news, Tracey Ullman has a Showtime show? [Variety]

Jason Sudeikis to Woo Jennifer Aniston, Unsuccessfully