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Sean Penn, Jim Carrey, Benicio Del Toro: Your Three Stooges

by Alex Billington
March 25, 2009

Your modern day Three Stooges: Sean Penn as Larry, Jim Carrey as Curly, and Benicio Del Toro as Moe. Can you believe it? I know I can't. While the three actors aren't completely confirmed (they're "in negotiations" according to Variety), MGM is pushing them out there now, as production is supposed to start in early fall for release sometime in 2010. Peter and Bobby Farrelly, of There's Something About Mary, will be writing and direct. And don't forget, this isn't a biopic, but rather a "comedy built around the antics of the three characters that Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Howard played in the Columbia Pictures shorts."

Word is that Jim Carrey is already planning to put on 40 pounds to fill the role of Curly. It was rumored that Penn would be involved, so now he's confirmed, and will jump right into this after finishing Cartel. Penn hasn't done a comedy since 1989 when he starred in We're No Angels. Del Toro hasn't done a comedy since, well Snatch. How are they going to pull this off? As much as I love these three guys, I am really not excited for this in the least, sorry to say. It would make more sense if this is a biopic, but these guys are going to be attempting to emulate what the original Three Stooges did and I don't think it'll work. Thoughts?

Filed under Casting, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Rabican

The people demand Shemp too!
http://www.dlmentertainment.com DLM Entertainment

I most definitely, just threw up in my mouth a lot. What the fuck? Sean Penn? Del Toro? Carrey? These are not names that come to mind when thinking of my beloved Stooges and who would play them. If this comes to fruition, then look upwards towards the heavens. I'm pretty goddamned sure you're gonna see 4 dudes on horseback. The end is most definitely fucking nigh!
Hey Ya

Yeah...not wasting my time on this. I rather them get three no bodies almost that audition real well and know the show. It's like The Honeymooners...anyone remember that piece of shit? The movie, not the show.
Papichulo

This is a joke right?
Jedi

I think someone forgot to tell Alex that April Fools Day isn't until NEXT Wednesday.
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

Yea, like you said, as much as I love these guys an imitation 3 Stooges just isn't going to work. A biopic would be a much better idea and would show a different side of the stooges that the camera missed. I'm sure their lives off camera were pretty interesting.
Ajax

What... What... What... #6, I heard that there was already a made-for-tv biopic made several years ago.
K

Interesting choices! I can absolutely see Carey being in this, he suits this perfectly. Penn and Del Toro, not so much. But how many times have I seen people rip apart the choice of a certain actor and then they do a great job. Remember when Heath Ledger was announced as the Joker? How many people said he will suck, why, bad choice, etc. And look what he did. Don't be so fast to judge people.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#6 - Hahaha... This comes from Variety and Hollywood Reporter though, so it is 100% real!
biznatch

WTF....you kidding me. This is trash.
http://www.theaterhopper.com Tom Brazelton

I remember reading about the Farrely's Stooges project years ago and that they wanted Russell Crowe for Moe. No joke!
Mondo Jay

... Really? Carrey seems too obvious... and Del Toro and Penn just seem like a confusing choice. They really should have gone with no names... but with the popularity of the Three Stooges, I guess it isn't really going to happen. Interesting news none the less, thanks Alex. ...
rick

you have got to be kidding me Hollywood.....STOP MAKING REMAKES. This has been the decade of remakes. Im sick of it. whatch Hollywood remake the xmen trilogy again and superman, whats next remake Mgiver and A-team and also Knight Rider?. Im supprised they havent anounced the remake for M.A.S.H. ...Damn , i should have kept my mouth shut, whatch them remake that too
Rabs

FLASHBACK--August, 2006 "What? Heath Ledger is cast as the Joker? Ahhh that's a horrible choiced! I'm pissed! This Sucks! Boycott!" Why don't you idiots calm down and give it a chance. These are three of the most talented actors around today, why are you complaining?
Mr j Money

I'm not sold on del toro, but he's gruff enough to do it I guess. Penn's got (the nose and) the acting chops to do whatever the heck he wants as a great, Spot-on Larry and Jimbo's silly enough to be a good curly. I'm behind this one. Let's be honest though, the best part about the shorts back in the day were the sound effects! It cracks me up just thinking about how Moe would just punish those guys with those open-hand slaps. Crack! Crack! Crack!
Blue Silver

Wow! These are not the guys that I pictured to tackle this.
bart

tom selleck, steve gutenberg & sam "mayday" malone are perfect!!!!!!!!
stevedawg

Perfect Cast!!! Just like as I imagined it. It's like they read my mind
Greedo the Rodian

The only one I can see is a fat bald Carrey. But I can imagine it working, for some reason. They should have another famous actor doing Shemp, and have him die at the beginning or something. My only problem is that the Three Stooges shorts were shorts for a reason. I don't know if you can mine that slapstick for an hour and a half straight. And the Farrellys have been on a decline since Mary.
stupidmovie

Anyone remember "Fever Pitch" with the worst actor/late night host ever? This bad news.
Gary M

Anyone who disaree's should give a reason why (instead of ranting), because honestly I can't see one.
Tim "Cloverfield"

If it was not for the Stooges.....( and the Marx Brothers )Seth Rogen, Ben Stiller and others would not have a career. And maybe that is not a bad thing.
Tyler

Scary as hell, but strangely intriguing... I will be following this one...
Cody

.................................
L

I am a huge fan of the Stooges and I ...could... see them fill the roles, but I wont know until I see it. #8 There was a small made-for-TV mini series that Mel Gibson produced and directed about the Stooges. it got a lot of heat for something, but I liked it a lot.
andy

april fools probably.
Dan W

I don't see it. Jim Carrey MAYBE. But not the others.
Chris

I am a die hard Stooges fan. Jim Carrey i could possibly see just cause he's an expert at facial mannerisms. But Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro. There great actors but i don't know
Michelle

Who in the HELL decided to cast these guys as the 3 Stooges?!? Don't get me wrong Jim Carey, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro are all great actors in their element, but give me a break! The 3 Stooges was slapstick comedy at it's finest. Carry could pull off the humorous, yuck it up, blunders that Curly was known for but even if he shaves his head, he cannot pull off Curly's persona. Penn and Del Toro though, are completely and totally wrong for Larry and Moe. They are much too hard and serious to even attempt these roles. There are a lot of other actors out there who have made plenty of supposed comedies that were more stupid than anything. These guys would be the perfect choices for the Stooges because idiocy was synonymous with their brand of comedy. This will go straight to DVD!
xerxex

HEY!!!!!!! CHILL THE F OUT!!!!!!! Give it a chance, you never know this cast could work, so mellow out and let's see what happens. 'til then CHILL THE F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quanah

Garbage...Through and through.
DCompose

Yeach well everyone thought Heath Ledger would ruin The Dark Knight so all you naysayers can fuck off.
dan

i'd be more interested in a biopic........but this has disaster written all over it.
http://www.feoamante.com Feo Amante

Turns out it was just a rumor. Paramount felt that the three actors weren't physical enough for their respective roles and have decided to go with action stars with greater audience appeal instead. The studio announced early this morning that their three-some of actors will feature, Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first acting role since leaving office (in 2010) as Moe "Spdead ouyt yu nuckle hedz yu!" Chow Yun Fat as Curly "Wu! Wu! Wu! Nyahk, Nyahk!" And Samuel L. Jackson IS Larry Fine "G*d D*mmit, Moe-f**ker! What the f**k you hitting me fo?" Meryl Streep will play the frumpy rich matron who gets a pie in the face.
Saul

Get 3 no names to play the 3 stooges, The more they look like them the better the movie will be a hit. Don't waste your time on high paid stars, they won't come through or be convincing.
Red

Yet another potentially good movie screwed up by short sighted film makers. The only thing I will ever go see Jim Carrey in is drama. I am so tired of his painfully old Schtick: There's nothing funny about Jim Carrey anymore. Penn and Del Toro? Here's an idea; why not hire comedians for Moe and Larry?
http://firstshowing.net The_Phantom

Why is jim Carry putting on 40 pounds when they could just put him in a fat suit. They did it to Ryan Reynolds in, "Just Friends" It's so unhealthy to gain that much wieght!
wm

it makes sense for Penn and Toro to do this, after you win Oscars and nominations, you do something that throws fans out of wack.
Fisherr

Agrees with #30.
kayla

I do not understand why everyone is getting so worked up. The Three Stooges are legends. And has anyone thought that the actors are wanting to pay a tribute to them and let the younger generations see what all of the old folks are talking about. These actors probably looked up to the Three Stooges and are excited about doing this(which will make them want to study and work really hard and get the persona's as close as the origionals.) I think that because the Three Stooges were such great icons, and the film will inevitably be critiqued to death. That the directors have probably picked the best actors for the parts. So what, they normally dont play these rolls.....THEY are actors and all three have been around for generations.... I think they JUST might know more about this than you all who are getting mad over something that does not directly concern nor affect your personal lives.
feohatestheworld

Not even funny Feo, not at all. Go back to slasher world and hate from there!!
Chris allain

The Farrlelly Bros. Are going to totally hit this one out of the park! You nay sayer's will be eating your words. Jim carrey as curly, Brilliant .Who else has his physical comedy ability. Penn I have seen him transform himself in many roles , right choice. I don't know much about Benecio Del Toro, but the picture shown , there is a remarkable resemblence to our beloved Moe.
http://www.feoamante.com Feo Amante

They love me, they hate me, I still have a fanbase. Sigh.
deeman

I have 3 better suggestions that should play the role of the 3 stooges... adam sandler as moe rob schneider as larry jim carrey or jack black or will farrell as curly
Dafne92

i think Benicio is good as Moe, becouse if you remenber Moe isn´t the funniest in the story, he is serious, angry and gives slaps to Curly and Larry, so i don´t mind for Benicio, but...Sean Penn as Larry?; Jim Carey is not one of my favorites actors i prefer Jack Black as Curly, anyway he´s fat XD