Judd Apatow has enlisted Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill to join Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in his next directorial effort. The film had been untitled thus far but now has a moniker: Funny People.
Variety reports that production will begin in September in LA and the film will be released next summer.
Apatow, who last wrote and directed Knocked Up, was deliberately vague about subject matter, Variety reports. He would only allow 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.
Coincidentally, 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, Variety notes.
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.
Mann is married to Apatow and co-starred in Knocked Up and Virgin.
Apatow and Sandler teamed with Robert Smigel to write the script for current release You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. Apatow is also producer of the upcoming Adam McKay-directed Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly and stoner comedy Pineapple Express with Rogen and James Franco.
