Michael Pena goes on 'Vacation', Linda Cardellini Joins 'Daddy's Home'

A trio of Fox favorites have come aboard New Line's sequel/remake of the classic road trip comedy, Vacation. Michael Pena, who stars in the network's Gracepoint, along with Kaitlin Olson of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Nick Kroll of The League, are joining the film which centers on a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms).  Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo will reprise their roles from the earlier movies, with Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Tim Heidecker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Olson's 'Sunny' co-star Charlie Day also part of the cast. Production is underway now with John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses ) directing.

Linda Cardellini may not be a Ghostbuster yet (*fingers crossed*) but that will give her time to join Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell in Daddy's Home. She'll play the wife to Ferrell's character, "a mild-mannered radio executive looking to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children just as their freewheeling and freeloading real father arrives on the scene." Sean Anders will direct when production begins later this year. [THR]

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Bill Murray Has Some Ideas for that All-Female 'Ghostbusters' Movie

Considering most had begun to write off a potential Ghostbusters 3 as a terrible idea cursed from the start, the positive reaction to Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) directing a female-led version was a step in the right direction. While there hasn't been any official casting just yet, one person who thinks it's a good idea is Bill Murray, who famously has refused to return for the sequel. While at TIFF reaping a ton of Oscar buzz for his performance in St. Vincent, Murray was asked by Access Hollywood about a female Ghostbusters movie and was extremely enthusiastic about it. Enthusiastic enough to maybe change his mind and come back?

Murray: "It sounds great to me. It sounds as good an idea as any other! There are a lot of women that could scare off any kind of vapor! No, it’s a grand idea, I don’t know who they’re talking about, but it’s a good idea, I would watch it! I mean, I love Robert Palmer’s videos, so why wouldn’t I love the female Ghostbusters?"

While talking to the Toronto Star he even came up with a few casting suggestions, including his St. Vincent co-star Melissa McCarthy...

Murray: “Melissa would be a spectacular Ghostbuster. And Kristen Wiig is so funny — God, she’s funny! I like this girl Linda Cardellini a lot. And Emma Stone is funny. There are some funny girls out there.”

All of those would be amazing choices, and the duo of McCarthy and Wiig even have box office cred together after Bridesmaids. But Cardellini, best known for ER and the Scooby-Doo movies, is a surprise choice and an inspired one. McCarthy seemed flattered and a little taken aback at Murray's idea...

McCarthy: "Oh, my God, that’s daunting. That’s taking on a legend, a legendary movie. But I would do anything with those ladies, anything at all.”

She made clear that nobody has approached her about it, and basically this is just Murray riffing on the idea because he was asked. Chances are Sony and Feig are already looking at these ladies, anyway. Well, except for Cardellini who is a little under the radar but hopefully Murray's seal of approval will change that. [SchmoesKnow]

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Reese Witherspoon Goes 'Wild'; Anna Kendrick Joins 'Life After Beth'; Tim Robbins In 'Welcome to Me'

* Reese Witherspoon had been on board to produce a Nick Hornby-scripted adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling memoir,  Wild: From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail. With the role calling for a woman in her 20s, she wasn't expected to star, but it seems as if Fox Searchlight has managed to change her mind as they've just announced Witherspoon for the lead role. The story chronicles Strayed's 1100-mile solo hike from the Mojave Desert to Washington State after experiencing a number of personal tragedies. Filming will begin in the fall once a director has been secured.

* Even though production is underway on the zombie comedy Life After Beth, the cast is still getting sorted out with Dane DeHaan and Paul Reiser recently coming aboard, and now three other names have been added to the cast. Anna Kendrick, Molly Shannon, and Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) have joined the film, which has DeHaan as a young man attempting to continue his relationship with his undead girlfriend, played by Aubrey Plaza. John C. Reilly co-stars, and the film marks the directorial debut by I Heart Huckabees scribe, Jeff Baena. [Deadline]

* As Kristen Wiig's Girl Most Likely hits theaters this weekend, the finishing touches are being put on her next film, Welcome to Me. Directed by Shira Piven (Fully Loaded) and produced by Will Ferrell's Gary Sanchez Productions, the story has Wiig as a woman who "suffers from dissociative personality disorder and wins the lottery only to decide to spend her money on a cable access talk show about herself". Joining Wiig are Oscar-winner Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Linda Cardellini in roles yet to be revealed. 

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Trailer Time: 'Return', starring Linda Cardellini and Michael Shannon

We've seen movies like Return before, with the war veteran returning home to a world that seems unfamiliar. The inability to adjust to normal society, the depression that follows, and the impact it has on their family who have no idea what to do to help make things better. Only we very rarely see it from the perspective of a female soldier, which is one reason why this film could be interesting.

Written and directed by Liza Johnson, Return stars Linda Cardellini as a reservist returned home from the Middle East to her husband(Michael Shannon) and kids, only to discover that the life she once knew no longer really exists for her.  Return will hit theaters on February 10th, to be followed On Demand a couple of weeks later. Check out the trailer below....

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