Casting Quickie: Diaz, Giamatti, Macdonald, Banks and Cohen

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By: Brad Brevet
Published: Thursday, April 23rd 2009 at 3:06 AM

A few throwaway casting notes were include in today's trade pages at Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, but the names are big enough they deserve some mention.

First off, Elizabeth Banks will star in the DreamWorks comedy Forever 21 written by Mike Culbert and Mike Pellettieri with a super secret plot that is being kept under wraps.

Next, State of Play helmer Kevin Macdonald has been brought aboard to develop and direct The End of Eternity for New Regency based on the futuristic 1955 Isaac Asimov novel concerning a ruling class called Eternity whose members can manipulate time and alter history. Macdonald will direct The Eagle of the Ninth for Focus Features first.

Then we receive word Paul Giamatti will topline the indie drama Barney's Version based on Mordecai Richler's final novel in which the story's title character has led a reckless life highlighted by three marriages, two children and being a "person of interest" in the mysterious disappearance of his bosom buddy. Richard J. Lewis will direct from the screenplay adaptation by Michael Konyves with filming set to begin in August in Rome, Montreal, Quebec's Laurentian Mountains and New York.

Moving on we learn Cameron Diaz will star in the legal comedy Bobbie Sue for Warner Bros. centering on a hard-charging female ambulance chaser whose mindset makes her the ideal candidate to be the face of a prestigious law firm when a powerful client is sued in a sexual discrimination case.

Finally, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor helmer, Rob Cohen, will direct Park Narcs for Intrepid Pictures. The comedy is about a college freshman who takes a summer job as a park ranger at a hard-partying lake after being dumped by his girlfriend. The intervention of a killjoy senator spurs the eccentric ranger crew into action. The director is apparently going for an '80s comedy tone in the same vein as Meatballs and Better Off Dead. If this sounds interesting to you, it is the only story with actual details so you can get the rest here.

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