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Zac Efron, Leslie Mann & Jason Bateman in 'This Is Where I Leave You'

by Ben Pearson
May 29, 2012
Source: Deadline

Director Adam Shankman just finished directing Rock of Ages, the 80's jukebox musical starring Tom Cruise that hits theaters next month, but the filmmaker is changing his tune considerably for his next project. This Is Where I Leave You is an ensemble piece based on Jonathan Tropper's novel about four siblings who come home to sit shiva after their father passes away, and what happens when they're trapped in the same house for a week. Deadline reports Jason Bateman, Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, and Goldie Hawn are in talks to join the cast, with Hawn playing the matriarch and the other three playing siblings.

Tropper, who also wrote an adaptation of the Jimmy Stewart classic Harvey that once had Robert Downey, Jr. and Steven Spielberg attached, wrote the This Is Where I Leave You screenplay based on his own novel. We've seen comedies that revolve around death before, most notably in the excellent 2007 British version of Death at a Funeral, so this isn't a new concept. But with talent like Bateman, Efron (who I think has a lot to offer in a post-High School Musical world) and Mann involved, this has the potential to be an enjoyable family comedy that goes to some dark places. There's one more sibling yet to be cast, so we'll keep you posted on the progress of this one as it heads for a September start date. Sound good?

UPDATE: THR has word that Jason Sudeikis and Malin Akerman are also negotiating to join the cast. Akerman would play Bateman's wife whose affair with his boss (Sudeikis) is brought to light. It seems interesting that Sudeikis would play a supervisor causing so much devastation to Bateman's life after they two teamed up to kill their respective bosses in the comedy Horrible Bosses. There's some more casting likely coming for this project so stay tuned.

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