Judd Apatow appears to be taking a break from directing movies about his family, as a new report notes he’s casting his upcoming film Train Wreck, starring comedian Amy Schumer.
Despite many considering his last effort This Is 40 a bit of a train- well, you get it, Apatow is still one of the biggest figures in comedy. Apatow has always been a prolific producing figure, but this will mark just his fifth feature and will be sure to attract quite a lot of acting clout.
The Hollywood Reporter writes that the film, entitled Train Wreck, will follow lead Amy Schumer as “a basket case who tries to rebuild her life.” The report also notes that Apatow has yet to cast integral roles for the boyfriend, the co-worker/best friend and the parent. According to sources, Apatow has been meeting potential actors in LA throughout this past month, while producer Barry Mendel and Schumer are conducing their own meetings in New York.
Best known for Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, the actress isn’t exactly a household name, unlike the leads in many of Apatow’s films, so this will certainly be a change of pace in addition to the absence of Apatow’s family. While This Is 40 wasn’t exactly universally loved like some of his past work, we’re sure to be able to expect Apatow’s signature improvisational humor and hyper-personal brand of comedy, even if there are fresh comedic faces in the mix.
The number of comedy stars who got their starts thanks in large part to Apatow productions is staggering, so it would be interesting to say the least if Train Wreck features some new blood. Apatow clearly has a knack for finding talent – just look at the cast for Freaks and Geeks – so it’ll be interesting to see which way Apatow goes with the supporting cast.