After lingering for ages in development, Steve Carell comedy Burt Wonderstone is now gathering its cast at lightning speed. The latest actors looking to join the fun? Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi.
Wonderstone, which Don Scardino is directing from a script that has had some work done by Jason Reitman, finds Carell as a Las Vegas magician whose life hits some serious issues. Not only is his status as the city’s top magic act being threatened by a new, hip illusionist with a knack for danger (Jim Carrey), but he’s also forced to go it alone when his partner quits.
Both are simply in talks right now, but if they sign, Buscemi will play the partner who leaves, while Wilde will be his assistant-turned-girlfriend, who also ditches the act to go and work with Carrey. Oh, and James Galdofini is already aboard as a casino owner.
Wilde is a woman in serious demand recently – her name comes up on every wish list of actresses. She’s got the likes of Butter and Welcome To People waiting to be released and will play Suzy Miller in Ron Howard’s James Hunt drama Rush. Buscemi’s been busy working on HBO drama Boardwalk Empire, and will report to the set of that show’s third season once his work on Wonderstone is complete (assuming he takes the job, of course).
Scardino is set to start directing the movie in January.