Alexander Payne is putting the finishing touches on the social satire Downsizing a script about small people, and has put together a big-name cast.

Paul Giamatti, Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon have all committed to star in the film, which would likely land at Fox Searchlight, where Payne has a first-look deal.

Giamatti, who previously teamed with the director on Sideways, is on board to star as a man low on money who decides he can have a much nicer life if he undergoes a process to shrink himself.

Witherspoon, also a Payne alum, whose career took off after starring in Election, would play a woman Giamatti meets on his journey as a small person. Cohen would play a pint-sized foreigner.

There are no deals in place for the three principals, and no negotiations will take place until Payne finishes his screenplay, which he is penning with Jim Taylor. Jim Burke is producing alongside Payne.

Unlike previous Payne pics, Downsizing would require considerable special effects and could push the budget out of Searchlight’s realm.

Project marks Payne’s first pic since “Sideways,” which was a Searchlight pic.

Source: Variety

Rumor is Alexander Payne (director of Election) might be getting into a new film soon and it’s being strongly gossiped that Reese Witherspoon will be one of the stars. The film also may feature, Sacha Baron Cohen, Paul Giamatti and Meryl Streep. It’s all evidently in the preliminary stages but we’ll keep you informed. It could certainly be interesting with that cast/crew behind it!

“Nothing is locked down at this juncture, not even script, certainly not cast,” Wells’ source says. “[Payne is] still working on screenplay, although he’s close.”

Source: Hollywood Elsewhere

Variety reports that Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd are in talks to star opposite Reese Witherspoon in James L. Brooks’ untitled romantic comedy for Columbia Pictures.

Brooks, who is directing and producing, wrote the screenplay, which involves a love triangle. Rudd would play a white-collar executive vying for Witherspoon’s affections, while Wilson would portray a professional baseball pitcher who is also a love interest.

As is customary with Brooks’ projects, logline is being kept vague for the film, which has the working title How Do You Know?

Paula Weinstein “Blood Diamond) and Laurence Mark (Dreamgirls) are also producing.

Studio is eyeing an early summer start date.

Personally, I would love to see Paul and Reese reunite because Overnight Delivery is one of my favorite of Reese’s movies!

Robert Downey Jr and Reese Witherspoon are in talks to star in Warner Bros’ The Days Before and Timur Bekmambetov is in negotiations to direct, according to Production Weekly.

Produced by 300 producer Gianni Nunnari, the sci-fi action spec script was written by Chad St. John (who previously worked on the unproduced script The Further Adventures of Doc Holiday for Bruce Willis). Days Before tells the story of a race of aliens who invade Earth by traveling backwards through time and wiping out humanity, one day at a time, yesterday by yesterday. One man attempts to stay “a yesterday ahead of them”, and every time he must try to convince the world that “the end is coming”, again.

Source: /Film

Director James L. Brooks (Spanglish) is set to team with Reese Witherspoon on an untitled comedy for Columbia Pictures, says Variety, confirming an earlier report by Collider.

The trade adds that Brooks has been holed up writing the screenplay for the film, which is described as an ensemble project that boasts at least three major characters — a hallmark of such Brooks films as Broadcast News and Terms of Endearment.

Witherspoon is the only lead to sign on so far.

The plot of the film, which has the working title How Do You Know?, is being kept under wraps. The studio is eyeing a March start date.

Source: Coming Soon

Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon will star in an untitled Cameron Crowe romantic comedy adventure at Columbia Pictures.

Columbia was the winning bidder, beating out four rival studios, in landing the fully developed project, which is being produced by Scott Rudin. Crowe, who wrote the screenplay, is also producing.

Studio is keeping the logline of the contemporary-set project under wraps.

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