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Casting Tidbits: Elijah Wood, Kenan Thompson, Colin Hanks and More

by Ethan Anderton
May 27, 2011

Casting Tidbits feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange. First up, after hearing about Emma Roberts, Ari Graynor and Chris Messina joining the cast of Celeste & Jesse Forever starring Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg as the titular divorced couple., we now have word on another cast member joining the project as THR reports Elijah Wood has signed on to star as well. In the story of Celeste & Jesse trying to stay friends while being divorced and pursuing new relationships, Wood will be playing Celeste's business partner who tries to be her "saucy gay friend."

Second, Variety reports Kenan Thompson and Virginia Madsen will join Summer at Dog Dave's, a new drama from Rob Reiner (Flipped, When Harry Met Sally). The film follows Morgan Freeman as wheelchair-bound author of Western novels whose alcoholism is making him lose his passion for writing. Madsen will play his new neighbor, a single mother going through a divorce who has three daughters. The family strikes up a relationship with the novelist and helps him rediscover his talent and find his passion for writing again. Thompson is playing Freeman's helpful nephew.

Next, THR reports Colin Hanks will join Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand in My Mother's Curse. Written by Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love) the story follows an inventor (Rogen) who invites his overbearing mother (Streisand) on a cross-country trip as he tries to sell his new product while also reuniting her with a lost love. Hanks will be playing husband to Yvonne Strahovski ("Chuck") who plays Rogen's high school sweetheart whom he previously proposed to. The couple let Rogen and Streisand stay in their house after they get caught in a blizzard. Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) is directing.

Finally, Variety reports Rosie Perez and "Fringe" star Lance Reddick will star in Still I Rise, a drama about two frustrated mothers (Maggie Gyllanhaal and Viola Davis) who team up to transform an inner-city public school in Pittsburgh. Perez will play a former teacher who is now the poised-yet-frank head of the school board, while Reddick will play Davis' husband who's also a teacher. Daniel Barnz is directing and also rewrote Brin Hill's original script.

That's all for this edition of Casting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for even more casting news on the way.

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