Alan Alda’s lengthy resume of gold is too long to mention, but needless to say, the guy rules and is incredibly funny, so consider us excited that he will lend his talents to two upcoming Universal comedies.
First up, he will join the ensemble cast of the forthcoming comedy “Wanderlust.” Written by the “The State” duo of Ken Marino and David Wain and directed by the latter, the film already boasts a strong cast including Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Lauren Ambrose, Justin Theroux and Malin Ackerman. The film, which is being produced by comedy heavyweight Judd Apatow, “centers on a married couple (Aniston, Rudd) who try escaping modern society by moving from New York” to a commune headed by Alda. “Wanderlust” is currently filming.
Following that, Alda will lend his talents to the Brett Ratner comedy, “Tower Heist.” The working-stiffs-from-New-Yawk tale will star Ben Stiller “as the overworked manager of a luxury building who, along with other staff, lost their pensions to a Bernie Madoff-like Wall Street crook. It so happens that the fraudster is being held under house arrest in the luxury penthouse apartment upstairs, and the manager and four cohorts figure a heist will make them whole.” Alda will play the faux-Madoff. Our hope for the film lies in the script written by Ted Griffin (“Ocean’s Eleven,” “Matchstick Men”), reworked by longtime Brett Ratner collaborator Jeff Nathanson (“Rush Hour 2,” “Rush Hour 3”) with Noah Baumbach lending his contributions specifically to Stiller’s character. Here’s hoping Griffin and Baumbach’s contributions smother Nathanson’s. “Tower Heist” will go in front of cameras in November.
And remember Alan, if it bends its funny, if it breaks, it’s not funny. [THR]