Variety has reported Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Common, Kristen Wiig, Taraji P. Henson and Leighton Meester are all joining Tina Fey, Steve Carrell for Shawn Levy’s Date Night.The only synopsis we have is that a regular old date night becomes much more than one couple expected.
/Film breaks down the characters:
- Mark Wahlberg: a “successful and crazily buff securities expert” who gets to flirt with with Tina Fey. Note that their description says securities, not security. The ‘crazily buff’ description is what inspired the Wahlberg component of the top-of-post image.
- James Franco: a “not-too-bright con man and petty criminal”, so I guess he’ll be bringing back the face fuzz…?
- Leighton Meester: the babysitter. I bet this is the typical 20-somethings as teens casting gambit again.
- Taraji P. Henson: a cop. Variety didn’t include the P, so maybe she ditched it while I wasn’t looking. Apparently, she’s playing the only character to suspect that Tina and Steve’s characters are in trouble.
- Common: a villain. No more information given. Hmmmm.
- Kristen Wiig: Tina Fey’s best friend. Hmmm. Maybe Amy Poehler had something better to do.
It looks like Franco is continuing with comedy after Pineapple Express and the upcoming Your Highness. I’m interested in see Wahlberg in a real comedic role, as Max Payne and The Happening were both pretty funny, but in the wrong kind of way.
The film could hit theaters as soon as 2010. Look for Levy’s next directorial effort with Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
What do you think of Date Night?