A couple of casting odds and sods for two potential franchise vehicles.
Let’s get started with Stephanie Szostak. You may not recognize or even know how to pronounce her name, but you may remember her face from her role as Paul Rudd‘s exasperated girlfriend in last summer’s “Dinner with Schmucks.” Well, the actress continues to rise through the ranks — this year she’ll have a small role in Cameron Crowe‘s “We Bought a Zoo” — and she’s landed the female lead in “R.I.P.D.” which should certainly boost her profile. She joins Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Bacon in the film about a pair of deceased detectives, one a recently murdered cop (Bridges), the other a gunslinger from the Old West (Reynolds), with the former trying to find his killer. Szostak will play Reynolds’ wife, who still belongs to this mortal coil and senses his presence. What is this, “Ghost“? Filming kicks off next month and the film will hit theaters on June 28, 2013.
Switching gears, John C. McGinley is a veteran character actor who you probably know as the guy who constantly made Zach Braff‘s life hell on “Scrubs” or as one of the two Bobs in “Office Space.” Well, he’s got plenty of on-screen experience bossing people around, only this time, it will be Tyler Perry taking orders as McGinley will play his superior in the forthcoming “I, Alex Cross.”
Based on the book by James Patterson, Perry will take on the role of the crime-busting psychologist Dr. Alex Cross. Matthew Fox has the role of Michael Sullivan, aka the Butcher of Sligo, a brutal assassin who kills for kicks and cash. After Cross botches one of his assignments, the Butcher kills Cross’ wife and then it’s game on between the two. Edward Burns will play Tommy Kane, Cross’ partner, with Jean Reno also along for the ride in an unspecified role. McGinley will play Chief of Police Richard Brookwell whose style of police work clashes with Cross’ more methodical approach. Shooting begins this month, with the film streeting late 2012 or early 2013. [THR/Variety]
