You know how there was once talk of a “Watchmen” movie with names like Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Hilary Swank and John Cusack, and then we ended up with a “Watchmen” movie with Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson? The Farrelly Brothers‘ new version of “The Three Stooges” seems to have undergone a similar downsizing. Initially announced with A-listers Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Jim Carrey attached (with names like Russell Crowe also linked at various stages), the film is finally happening, but with a cast mostly made up of supporting players from mid-level sitcoms.
Will Sasso, a cast member on CBS’ “$#*! My Dad Says,” was the first to be locked in, in the role of Curly, while Sean Hayes, late of “Will & Grace” was the next on board, as Larry. While we’re still waiting for word on which actor will play Moe (Hank Azaria was said to be the front-runner most recently), one more name familiar from half-hour comedies is on the verge of joining the cast, as Sofia Vergara, star of ABC’s smash hit “Modern Family,” is in negotiations to play one of the film’s female leads.
You might know Vergara from the likes of “Soul Plane,” “Lords of Dogtown” and “Four Brothers,” but it’s more likely you know her as part of the “Modern Family” ensemble, where she regularly kills it as the much-younger Colombian wife of Ed O’Neill‘s character. The actress has booked more than a few gigs since her success on the show — she’ll crop up this summer in “The Smurfs” (poor thing), will lend her voice to “Happy Feet 2,” and is currently using the show’s hiatus to join the seemingly-randomly-assembled ensemble of Garry Marshall‘s “New Year’s Eve.”
Her role will take place in the second of the three 27-minutes vignettes (designed after the original Stooges shorts), as a femme fatale who tries to manipulate the Stooges into killing a man. Filming should begin any day now — it’s already been pushed back once, but should be underway by the end of the month — so the cast, which may also include Richard Jenkins as a nun for some reason (there’s been no word if the actor officially signed on), should be firmed up shortly. [Variety]