1st look at Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann in Judd Apatow's 'This is Forty'

Well, this photo courtesy of the LA Times looks more like a set photo, with Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, and the Judd Apatow's two daughters, Maude and Iris, posing for the camera while shoving down wads of birthday cake. It's still the first official thing we've seen from This Is Forty, the comedy spinoff from 2007's Knocked Up, focusing on the troubled married couple, Pete and Debbie.


The title alone should tell you the direction the story is going, dealing with the couple's getting older and questioning some of the decisions they've made in life. Courtesy of the article, we know that it takes place a few years after Knocked Up(sorry, no Seth Rogen!), with Pete's record label struggling and Debbie running a dress shop staffed by Desi(Megan Fox) and the awkward Jodi(Charlyne Yi). Looks like with Pete's business on the rocks, Debbie's under some pressure to make up the difference, which will cause all sorts of marital issues. 

Apatow has found more success lately as a producer than as a writer/director, but this looks like it could be his next huge hit. Just don't expect to walk in and have this be quite as juvenile as Knocked Up was. Clearly, this is closer to Funny People territory. 

Albert Brooks, Melissa McCarthy, Lena Dunham, John Lithgow, Chris O'Dowd, Annie Mumolo, and Jason Segel make up what may be Apatow's best cast yet. This Is Forty opens on December 21st.