20th Century Fox has acquired screen rights to Jane Heller’s 2005 novel An Ex to Grind, reports Deadline.com. The deal comes with Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro attached to play a warring couple in the romantic comedy.
Says Deadline, Del Toro (soon to be seen on the Cannes Festival jury — ash clouds willing) will play a star athlete who for years supports the dreams of his waitress wife. When his career is cut short by injury, he turns into a beer-swilling couch potato and she finds big success in business. Aiming to divorce him, the wife decides to find him a new partner in order to escape alimony payments.
Laura Bickford (who worked with Del Toro on Traffic and Che) will produce with Julie Yorn.