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Casting Tidbits: Tom Hardy, Old Spice Guy, Tina Fey, Zac Efron

by Ethan Anderton
July 29, 2010

You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked, and I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause even if this room gets filled with Casting Tidbits like these, and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody'll listen to me. First, more replacements in McG's action comedy This Means War. Vulture reports Tom Hardy (Inception, Bronson) has taken the role that was previously offered to Sam Worthington in the story of two best friends and veteran spies (Hardy/Chris Pine) against each other when they both fall for the same girl (Reese Witherspoon). Hardy vs. Pine? Yes, please!

Second, THR reports Tina Fey and Meryl Streep will both star in Mommy & Me, a comedy directed by Stanley Tucci that will see the actresses as mother-and-daughter. The specifics of the story are being kept under wraps but it's supposed to focus on the thorny and funny sides of mother-daughter relationships. If this film had anyone else involved besides Streep and Fey, I would be far less interested, but I love both of them so much. However, I've heard that Tucci's 2007 film Blind Date was a laughable entry at the Sundance Film Festival, so I'll be cautiously optimistic from here on out.

Next, Deadline reports that Steve Coogan (Hamlet 2, Tropic Thunder) is the latest to join the cast of My Idiot Brother, the indie comedy from director Jesse Peretz starring Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones and Adam Scott. The story follows three sisters who find their stupid sibling inadvertently bringing truth, happiness and a sunny disposition into their lives along with some craziness. No details on what character Coogan will play in the film, but I'd like him to bring some laughs to the table.

Also, EW's Hollywood Insider reports Lee Pace (The Fall, "Pushing Daisies") is at the top of the list to join the cast of Breaking Dawn, the final chapter of The Twilight Saga (yes, even more of those vampire movies). Pace would play Edward Cullen's best friend in the final chapter of the series featuring glittering vampires, wooden-acted werewolves and one of the most submissive, poorly written female character in the past decade. This would be the first new addition to the cast from director Bill Condon who is at the helm for both parts (they're taking the Harry Potter route and milking the cash cow for all it's worth) of the finale.

In addition, Vulture reports that Zac Efron has lined up two more starring vehicles in addition to his other projects in development. The first will see him taking the lead in the adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel The Lucky One, the story of a soldier who returns from Iraq with a picture of a girl that became his good luck charm. I guess this means Daniel Radcliffe won't be involved as was once thought. The second project is on the opposite end of the spectrum with Efron hitting some hard action with Die in a Gunfight. The story would have Efron play Ben, an underachieving, deadbeat son of a famous New York high-society attorney who gets himself in over his head when he falls for the daughter of his father's nemesis; a girl who is already busy being stalked by an obsessive French professor. If Efron can keep this kind of variety up, then he's got quite a career ahead of him.

Finally, look down. Now look back at me. What’s in your hand? Back at me. Here I have a report from THR that Isiah Mustafa, the man who has famously become known as "The Old Spice Guy" on the interwebs, has landed a role in the ensemble comedy Horrible Bosses starring Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and more. Mustafa revealed that he's playing a cop, but he's not sure yet who he's sharing his scene with just yet. Hopefully that cop will turn his billy club to diamonds and suddenly ride out of the scene on a horse, because that would be totally amazing.

Well, that's all for this edition of Casting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for more casting updates on the way.

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