Wiig Moving On Up: Saturday Night Live’s Kristen Wiig has signed on for her first big-screen leading role in an untitled project to be directed by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow. Feig and Apatow will be working together for the first time since their cult TV series Freaks and Geeks. Wiig also wrote the script (with writing partner Annie Mumolo), which revolves around women competing to plan a friend’s party. (Meanwhile, Penelope just signed on for her seventeenth leading role … in a movie directed by Steven Spielberg … about women competing to plan a friend’s party ON THE MOON.) [Variety]
Al’s In: Al Pacino will take over for Robert De Niro in the police thriller Son of No One, about a young cop with “an old secret” who is assigned to a precinct in his hometown. Channing Tatum has been approached to play the young cop, and Terrence Howard, Ray Liotta, and Katie Holmes are also in talks to join the cast. While it’s nice of them to let us know about the Pacino–De Niro swap, at this point we’re guessing only about 10 percent of the audience would know the difference. [HR]
Liman’s the Man: Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) will direct the indie Attica from a screenplay written by Geoffrey Fletcher, nominated for an Oscar for Precious. The film will explore the 1971 Attica state prison rebellion, the bloodiest prison riot in American history. Casting hasn’t started yet, but get on that, single stars and starlets: Liman, who directed Mr. and Mrs. Smith, clearly knows how to create a mood on set. [Variety]
Pass to Bynes: Amanda Bynes has joined the cast of the Farrelly Brothers’ comedy Hall Pass, already featuring Owen Wilson, The Office’s Jenna Fischer, and Saturday Night Live’s Jason Sudeikis. The film, which begins shooting in Atlanta next week, is about two wives in unhappy marriages who give their husbands “hall passes” to engage in affairs. Sigh, if Pam Beesly and Sydney White can’t make things work, there’s really no hope for any of us. [Variety]
Taryn Makes Three: Taryn Manning will join the cast of CBS’ upcoming series Hawaii Five-O as a regular, joining Alex O’Loughlin and Lost’s Daniel Dae Kim. Manning will play O’Loughlin’s younger sister, which means that while she will presumably not be O’Loughlin’s love interest, there is still hope for post-Sun love for Jin after all! [HR]
Levy Hitched to Pilot: Eugene Levy has joined the cast of Hitched, Josh Schwartz’s comedy pilot for CBS about a young newlywed couple. Levy will play the groom’s dad, described as a “tracksuit-wearing four-times-divorced Lothario.” Clearly someone needs to set this guy up with Sue Sylvester. [HR]
