UPDATED: /Film talked to Peter Farrelly today, and while he confirms that he “likes” Samberg and Knoxville, there are no firm offers out to anyone, and the two haven’t even auditioned yet. As Farrelly said, “it’s wide open to everybody.”

Here’s some Friday afternoon full disclosure – for a long time, I maintained that I would be shocked if the THREE STOOGES film adaptation happened, and I would have been even more shocked if it happened and I actually cared about it. Endless cycles of casting rumors – first including names like Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Paul Giamatti, and Jim Carrey – rendered me completely bored to any and all Stooges proceedings. That said, here is some STOOGES shortlist chatter!

This latest round of Stooges talk may just pull me from my misdirected disdain and ennui. Fox’s reported “shortlist” (bleh) for the film, set to be helmed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, includes a younger set of actors known much more for their comedic chops than their dramatic roles. As Scott Weinberg put it, “nobody ever expected to see Sean Penn playing a Stooge.” I didn’t expect to, and I didn’t want to. But these news names – Johnny Knoxville, Adam Samberg, and Aussie Shane Jacobson – well, now we’re talking about something that could actually be funny.

The Wrap reports that the shortlist has Knoxville as Moe, Samberg as Larry, and Jacobson as Curly. As I am not a huge fan of Knoxville, and have not seen Jacobson’s touted role in KENNY, I am left singing the praises of Samberg. And that’s good, because I think Samberg is hilarious. I will now take this moment to implore you to watch HOT ROD, you will not regret it, unless you split your stomach laughing. If that happens, deepest apologies.

Moreover, the Farrellys’ take on the Stooges film adaptation will be a little different, with the film divided “into three, 27-minute segments driven by physical comedy.” You know, I don’t hate it.

Source The Wrap, via Cinematical