Olivia Thirlby in talks to join Ivan Reitman’s untitled rom-com
The Wrap is reporting that actress Olivia Thirlby (JUNO, THE WACKNESS) is in talks to join director Ivan Reitman's untiled rom-com, already starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. Described as an "inverse WHEN HARRY MET SALLY," the film centers around a man (Kutcher) and a woman (Portman) who have a, shall we say, mutually beneficial agreement. But, as we all know, friends with benefits are never meant to be. It's an idea that's great on paper, but never actually works. Like a equipping grizzly bears with jet packs and teaching them to be soldiers. Or a waterless car wash.
Thirlby would play Portman's sister. I can't be too sure but I have a hunch she might also be the voice of reason. Just a hypothesis. The film also stars Kevin Kline (THE BIG CHILL), Greta Gerwig (GREENBERG), Ophelia Lovibond (NOWHERE BOY), and Ben Lawson (The Deep End).
The film has gone through a few changes title wise, explaining the "untitled" moniker. Originally called FUCKBUDDIES, the script by Liz Meriwether sat high atop 2008's Black List of best unmade screenplays in Hollywood. Changed for obvious reasons, the film then became known as FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS. Unfortunately, there is already two properties in the works with that exact title - another rom-com starring Justin Timberlake and a sitcom from (500) DAYS OF SUMMER scribes Michael Weber and Scott Neustadter. And thus it has come to be known as UNTITLED IVAN REITMAN ROM-COM. That or IVAN REITMAN'S FIRST FILM SINCE 2006'S MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND.
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