Judd Apatow - Articles - Zimbio

Judd Apatow fills cast for next directorial effort

Thu, 13 Jun 2008 14:07:04 GMT

posted by celebmanx

Judd Apatow’s next directorial effort now has a full ensemble. Apatow has enlisted Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill to join Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann with the working title “Funny People”.

Apatow, who last wrote and directed Knocked Up, will begin filming in September in LA and the film will be released next summer.

The subject matter is still somewhat of a secret but Apatow did reveal that the movie takes place in the world of stand-up comedy and the focus is on a comedian who has a near-death experience.

Apatow has worked with many of his current cast. Apatow and Sandler previously teamed with Robert Smigel to write the script for “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.

Jonah Hill starred in the Apatow-produced Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He also appeared in the Apatow-directed features Knocked Up and The 40 Year-Old Virgin.

Laslie Mann is married to Apatow and co-starred in Knocked Up and Virgin.

Perhaps not coincidentally, new cast member Eric Bana began his career as a comic on the standup circuit in Australia and starred in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal and The Eric Bana Show before remaking himself as a dramatic actor, according to Variety Magazine.

Source

Adam Sandler And Judd Apatow To Make Stand Up Comedy Movie

Tue, 4 Jun 2008 12:39:00 GMT

posted by gic
Adam Sandler has agreed to headline a Judd Apatow film about stand-up comics. Seth Rogan and Leslie Mann have signed on to also star in the untitled Judd Apatow - Adam Sandler project. Production is set to begin later this year and the film is slated for a theatrical release July 31, 2009.

There are also reports that Eric Bana is in talks with Apatow to star in the movie as well, playing boyfriend to Leslie Mann. When you look at Eric Bana's resume in Hollywood, you probably wouldn't expect him to show up in a big, flashy comedy. But, back home in Australia, Bana is known for his comedy - he's just never had the chance to show it in the United States... until now.

We do know the movie will focus on the world of stand-up comedians. The project has been on the radar since March, but outside the good news that Apatow was going to direct, there wasn't much to report.

Eric Bana is currently wrapping up work on "Star Trek" with Winona Ryder, a chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crewmembers. Also due soon is the romantic drama "The Time Traveler's Wife". Bana is also currently working on the animated movie "Mary and Max", and then he'll star alongside Terrence Howard in "Factor X."

Leslie Mann was last seen in "Drillbit Taylor" with Owen Wilson, and can be seen this August in the comedy "Seventeen Again" with Zac Efron. Mann is currently filming the comedy "I Love You Phillip Morris" starring Jim Carrey, a true story of Steven Russell (Jim Carrey), a married father whose exploits landed him in the Texas criminal justice system.

Adam Sandler is waiting for the release of "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" due this weekend in theaters.

Related Story: Adam Sandler In "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" Review And Trailer

Also due in December for Sandler is the movie "Bedtime Stories" with Courtney Cox and Lucy Lawless, a family comedy about a hotel handyman (Adam Sandler) whose life changes when the lavish bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to magically come true.

Learn more about these celebrities at StarLink: Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Winona Ryder, Owen Wilson, Zac Efron, Courtney Cox, Lucy Lawless
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From The Hulk and the Guy Who Brought You 'Knocked Up'?

Mon, 3 Jun 2008 18:37:27 GMT

posted by bigpicture
Odds are, in your little fantasy studio groups, you didn't draft Eric Bana for a Judd Apatow movie. Any Judd Apatow movie. See, that's why Judd Apatow isn't in your fantasty league.

Apatow's next film, which will cover the lives of stand-up comics, will star Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Apatow's wife, Leslie Mann. We talked about this movie over the weekend; Apatow wants it to be a "hilarious drama" as opposed to his earlier efforts. When you think about it, though, Apatow's movies both have serious sides.

Why Eric Bana, you may ask? Well, before Hulk and before Troy - hell, even before Black Hawk Down and Chopper - Bana was a comic on Australian TV. Beginning in the early 90s, Bana performed on a pair of sketch comedy shows, Full Frontal and Eric. He was, as you might guess, the star of the second one.

Of course, he hasn't really done much comedy in the past decade, and thinking about some other comedians who have taken different journeys - I'm looking at you, Eddie Murphy - I don't know if I'd say it's like riding a bike. You would hope that with Apatow's skill as a writer, Bana would be just fine here.

Incidentally, CHUD reports that he'd be playing the boyfriend of Leslie Mann, a guy named Clarke, in the film. Bana has been the subject of speculation before; anyone remember when he was the next James Bond?

He's an exceedingly talented actor, but in a very naturalistic way. If you've never seen Chopper, do. And it's almost worth watching Lucky You to see his interaction with Robert Duvall, particularly the scene in the diner, which is the real highlight of that incredibly dreary movie.

Sandler, Apatow, Rogen to Make "Hilarious" Drama About Comedy

Sun, 2 Jun 2008 00:58:45 GMT

posted by bigpicture
Former roommates Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler teamed up for You Don't Mess With the Zohan, which will probably do Sandler-like business when it hit theaters next week. But they won't wait long to work together again.

Sandler tells MTV that they'll be making a movie about life on the stand-up comedy circuit, which co-star Seth Rogen told a crowd at a Q & A is "hilarious by default." Sandler seems to have some misgivings about the concept.

"I've got to write an act again. It's been a long time. I haven't done stand-up in, like, 10 years. Even more," admitted Adam. "That's why I want to kill Judd Apatow right now. I was so much happier doing nothing!"

Sandler confirms that he'll probably try his act out in the comedy clubs of Los Angeles later this summer, trying to sharpen his skills. "You will see me bomb for 15 minutes and walk off [the stage] and punch Judd," Sandler said.

Review: Superbad/Knocked Up

Wed, 5 Jun 2008 15:55:17 GMT

posted by haplesshermit

Judd Apatow came on the scene several years ago with Freaks and Geeks, an intelligent, thoughtful, funny look at the struggles of several teenagers and their dealing with the social cliques around them. Set in the early 80's, it was authentic and sometimes poignant. There was little comedy from actual punchlines, but instead, the laughs came from this spot-on look at the awkwardness of the age and the absurdity of the situation, the familiar youth is wasted on the young. Imagine John Hughes films, only with more bite and insight.

Well the ratings for Freaks and Geeks were poor and the network wasted little time dropping the show despite huge support from critics and a loyal (however small) fan base. Judd Apatow created something of quality and he was rewarded with a quick cancellation.

It seems now, Apatow is making an effort to not make the mistake of producing work that will not be instantly profitable. Recently caught his films Superbad and Knocked Up. Superbad, the better of the two, did have it's moments, but it was clear Apatow has taken a different approach, painting with broader strokes and going for quicker, wider humor than before. This stuff, though also aimed at young adults, is more like a new generation of teen-raunch-fests. Superbad could be the sensitive grandchild of the original Porky's or the smart nephew of American Pie.

For Knocked Up, Apatow relies even more on the standard main-stream cliches and is sunk even deeper in Hollywood entrapment. They even got a bonafide model to play the romantic lead to the "Loser who makes good."

This stuff isn't bad. It's just that Apatow has shown us he can do better. He doesn't need dick jokes. He also doesn't need to be repeating himself though that seems to be what he's doing with these two films. Oh well, at least these films are box office successes. Maybe after a few more successes, he will be wealthy enough and have enough security that he can put out stuff of real quality again.