Originally set to be Jonah Hill’s directorial debut, the Black List-approved “Kitchen Sink”—described as “The Breakfast Club” meets “Zombieland” with vampires and an alien invasion thrown in for good measure—has beefed its cast with some solid comedic forces. Deadline is reporting that Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk and Ian Roberts (the Literal Doctor on “Arrested Development” and “Key & Peele” showrunner) have joined the film in unnamed roles, though it’s highly likely that the roles will be teachers or school administrators, given the high school setting of the genre mash-up.
Will Smith isn’t letting the disappointing “After Earth” slow him down and he’s pushing ahead with his next starring role, con-man movie “Focus.” THR reports that Xerxes himself, Rodrigo Santoro is joining the film as a “magnetic and powerful owner of an international auto racing team who is vying for” the affections of female lead Margot Robbie. The film will be the follow-up to “Crazy, Stupid, Love” for directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.
Bobby Cannavale is moving on up. The actor’s been around forever and has been steadily gaining heat, most notably showing up in this past season of “Boardwalk Empire,” and Deadline reports that the “Win Win” and “Blue Jasmine” actor has nabbed his highest-profile role yet as “a bulldog political adviser” to Jamie Foxx’s character in the Jay Z and Will Smith-produced “Annie” remake. It’s set for release next Christmas.
Cantankerous interviews aside, Ray Liotta is having a bit of second swing at things with decent roles in “Killing Them Softly” and “The Place Beyond The Pines” and Deadline reports that Liotta is continuing that streak with “Kill The Messenger.” Liotta will star alongside Jeremy Renner in the true story as “a retired CIA agent who is secretly interviewed by” Renner and provides the key evidence linking the CIA to coke trafficking in the United States. The film is penned by non-fiction writer and journalist-turned-screenwriter Peter Landesman.
The Wrap is reporting that Josh Gad (“Jobs,” “1600 Penn”) will co-star alongside Billy Crystal in the FX comedy pilot “The Comedians” where the two play mismatched comedians—the former a young and hungry comic, the latter a “superstar veteran”—who are paired “for a late-night sketch show.” Though the premise could prove hackneyed, it should you interest you to know that Larry Charles will helm the pilot. No word on the timeline for the show.
