What is this, a leftover SNL sketch? The family-friendly comedy genre is a lean one and with good reason — they usually don't work. "I Spy"? "Leonard Part 6"? "Get Smart"? "Spies Like Us"? You see where we're going with this? But Seth Rogen thinks he can figure it out and has set up a new movie over at wholesome Disney studios.
Entitled "The B Team" (clever!) the project was a pitch picked up by the studio three years ago, and will now enter development with Rogen set to star. Dreamed up by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman (the duo behind the Mandy Moore rom-com "Chasing Liberty") the story will center on a secret agent who is kidnapped, forcing the rest of his team to come to the rescue. So imagine if Ethan Hunt was inept and had to be rescued by Simon Pegg. Hilarious? Everything is still in early stages and we figure it's only a matter of time before Rogen's usual partner in crime Evan Goldberg is brought in to help get this project moving and write the script.
Can't exactly say this sounds particularly exciting and it seems it'll be aimed at families or a younger audience if it's set up at Disney who don't greenlight anything unless it will sell toys or something. Anyway, we'll see where this goes. For now, after a busy 2012, Rogen only has "My Mother's Curse" with Barbra Streisand on deck for next year, arriving on November 2nd (though yes, he's got a tiny role in the indie "For A Good Time, Call…" hitting Sundance next month). But he'll spend the early part of the year hanging out with all his old pals — Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill and James Franco — making the long awaited "Jay And Seth Vs. The Apocolypse." And we presume there won't be anything Disney about it. [Variety]