the industry

Disney to Take Chance on Unknown Actress

Does anyone … have any idea … what’s happening?

Hannah Montana to Act: Disney has cast Miley Cyrus in an untitled film that’s being “tailor-made” for the tween-mongering tartlet by The Notebook’s Nicholas Sparks. It was Sparks whose source material gave Mandy Moore that first non-singing role in A Walk to Remember, a role that helped her navigate the narrow path from irrelevant pop singer to irrelevant star of License to Wed. Even still, Cyrus is surely hoping for somewhat similar luck, as she must undoubtedly fear the grim possibility of becoming Britney Spears in Crossroads. [Variety]

Four Alone Together: Michael Douglas will star in Solitary, the Steven Soderbergh–produced story of a former car-dealership owner who let a runaway libido ruin his life. Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, and Jenna Fischer are in talks to co-star. Honestly, Jenna, when will you learn that a woman’s place is on The Office and not on the big screen? [Variety]

Spade’s Marriage on the Rocks: Perennial David Spade collaborator Fred Wolf (The House Bunny) will write and direct Divorced Guys for Spade to topline. Wolf also wrote Tommy Boy, Joe Dirt, and Dickie Roberts, so it’s not surprising the story follows a group of divorced guys who go on a road trip and “stumble into a series of comic mishaps.” Somewhere in heaven, Chris Farley’s ghost is smiling. And trying to put on a little coat. [Variety]

Galifianakis ‘08: Zach Galifianakis will play a lead in Todd Philips’s comedy The Hangover for Warner Bros., the story of three guys (Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, and Ed Helms) who lose the groom at a Vegas bachelor party mere hours before the wedding. But Galifianakis’s formidable beard wasn’t satisfied with only one gig; he’s landed a role in HBO’s comedy pilot Bored to Death, starring alongside Jason Schwartzman and TV newcomer Ted Danson. You can bet he’s celebrating right now with a cool glass of Absolute Vodka. [HR]

Heigh-Ho: Fox is developing an hour-long dramedy loosely based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, tentatively called Georgia and the Seven Associates, from show creators Chris Brancato and Bert Salke (The Prince of Motor City). The tone has been described as Devil Wears Prada meets Taxi, set in the L.A. legal circuit, where a young lawyer is banished from her stepmother’s law firm and forced to work with seven quirky lawyers at a crummy storefront office (e.g., Sleepy is a bike messenger who parties all night and naps in the office). This could turn out pretty cool, and Fox has tapped the steady hands of Ken Kwapis, helmer of NBC’s The Office pilot, to direct this puppy. Would it be considered gauche to preemptively suggest Zac Efron for Prince Charming? [HR]

Disney to Take Chance on Unknown Actress