Surprising Cast Appears Set For New Three Stooges Movie
Posted March 25, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
What a revoltin’ development!
Or so you might think with the news that the cast of a new Three Stooges movie seems all but set. Reports out of Hollywood have confirmed only one name for sure. And you may not believe some of this casting.
Oscar winner Sean Penn has been signed to star as Larry Fine, the so-called middle Stooge with the curly hair just made to be ripped out by Moe. It will be his first comedy since 1989.
So who’s in charge of this notorious threesome? It’s said to be none other than Benecio Del Toro, who will play the noggin cracking, skull pounding, hammer knocking, bowl haircut-wearing leader of the trio.
But perhaps the most amazing cast member will be a man who’s badly in need of a hit after a series of less than blockbuster starring roles: Canadian Jim Carrey (top left) is said to be all but confirmed for the pivotal role of Curly, although he may have to gain 40 lbs. and be shaved bald to fit the role.
Can he do it? Soitanly.
It’s always a challenge for Hollywood to try and portray iconic figures and previous attempts have been mixed.
There was a TV version of the Stooges story produced for a U.S. network in 2000. The biggest name there was probably Michael Chiklis of The Shield fame starring as Curly.
But this film is taking even more risks than that one did. Instead of being a de facto biography of the legendary short film stars, the producers are attempting to actually make a full length Stooges comedy using the new cast, an idea that screams sacrilege to purists.
And they’ve been right to worry before. A disturbing and ill fated 1999 attempt to remake Laurel And Hardy with Bronson Pinchot trying in vain to impersonate the great Stan Laurel was greeted with justifiable derision.
Still, there’s some hope for the nascent Stooges flick, which will boast a great cast and a script that has yet to be completely set. It’s being directed by the Farrelly Brothers, whose previous efforts have turned out such box office gold as “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber.”
Production is set to start in the fall with a 2010 release – and the expected howls of either laughter or protest – to follow.
Photo credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
