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New Casting Tidbits: John C. Reilly, Jennifer Lopez & Channing Tatum

by Ethan Anderton
June 21, 2011

Casting Tidbits like to breathe, and they're good at hiding it. I put a pillow over a baby. I thought she wasn't breathing, but she was. She was sneaky, but I'll try again. First up, THR has word that Megan Fox and John C. Reilly have booked cameo roles in Sacha Baron Cohen's forthcoming comedy The Dictator. The film reteams the actor with Borat director Larry Charles for the story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. Cohen plays the dictator and a goat herder, but it's not clear what roles Fox and Reilly will have in the film.

Second, Vulture has word that Jennifer Lopez, Ed Helms and Isla Fisher are getting ready to find out What to Expect When You're Expecting. The ensemble pregnancy comedy based on Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel's informational novel on expecting a child follows six couples of varying ages and backgrounds in the run-up to delivery of their babies. It's pretty much like Valentine's Day but with tons of buns in the oven. There's been talk that Matthew Morrison of "Glee" was up for a part, but his busy schedule on the Fox musical series will keep him out of the film. The same can be said for Kristen Wiig whose role has now gone to Ms. Fisher. Kirk Jones, who last helmed Everybody's Fine, is directing.

In addition, Deadline reports that Jennifer Lopez is also circling the lead female role in Parker, the adaptation of Donald Westlake's mystery novel series featuring Jason Statham as the author's recurring character. Based on series of novels by Donald Westlake, the story follows a thief who, though at times is forced to be a killer, still lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it. His word is his bond, and if he is crossed he will strike back. Lopez would play a character named Leslie who gets involved with Parker as he executes a heist. Here's hoping this return to thriller territory for Lopez turns out like something akin to Out of Sight.

Finally, Variety reports Channing Tatum is attached to start in Blood Brothers, a suspenseful thriller based on a recently sold pitch being kept under tight wraps. Eric Nazarian (Mongol) and Sergei Bodrov (The Blue Hour) are behind the pitch with the latter also set to direct the film. Apparently it's an original idea, but considering the kind of generic roles Tatum has been drawn to in the past, I'm not exactly anxious to hear the details behind the story. I'm always willing to have Tatum show me he has talent somewhere, so maybe his turn alongside Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street will do something for me.

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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