Judd Apatow fills cast for next directorial effort

Judd Apatow’s next directorial effort now has a full ensemble. Apatow has enlisted Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill to join Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann with the working title “Funny People”.

Apatow, who last wrote and directed Knocked Up, will begin filming in September in LA and the film will be released next summer.

The subject matter is still somewhat of a secret but Apatow did reveal that the movie takes place in the world of stand-up comedy and the focus is on a comedian who has a near-death experience.

Apatow has worked with many of his current cast. Apatow and Sandler previously teamed with Robert Smigel to write the script for “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.

Jonah Hill starred in the Apatow-produced Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He also appeared in the Apatow-directed features Knocked Up and The 40 Year-Old Virgin.

Laslie Mann is married to Apatow and co-starred in Knocked Up and Virgin.

Perhaps not coincidentally, new cast member Eric Bana began his career as a comic on the standup circuit in Australia and starred in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal and The Eric Bana Show before remaking himself as a dramatic actor, according to Variety Magazine.

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