In today's Callbacks -- your daily roundup of casting news from Deal Central -- Aziz Ansari takes "30 Minutes or Less," Winona Ryder makes a major comeback and a trio of tough guys circle Tony Scott's latest crime drama.
• Aziz Ansari (NBC's "Parks and Recreation") is about to land his first lead movie role and I have to say, it's about damn time.
The stand-up comedian is in negotiations to star in director Ruben Fleischer's action comedy "30 Minutes or Less," according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Ansari will play a history teacher who is forced to rob a bank with his best friend (a pizza-delivery man) when a pair of a white trash criminals strap a bomb vest to the latter. Danny McBride (HBO's "Eastbound & Down") has been rumored to play the leader of the dimwitted bad guys.
Ansari has been relegated to scene-stealing supporting actor for far too long in films like "Observe and Report" and "Funny People." I'm glad he's been giving a chance to topline his own movie, and I hope the studio finds someone equally funny to pair him with, such as a fellow NBC Thursday night actor of color like "Community" stars Donald Glover or Danny Pudi.
Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan wrote the Black List script which Fleischer chose as his "Zombieland" follow-up over "Mission: Impossible IV," a bold move that indicates Fleischer is interested in more than just a studio paycheck.
Ansari will embark on a stand-up tour this summer while on hiatus from his NBC sitcom. He's developing several comedies at Universal with director Jason Woliner and producer Judd Apatow.
Ansari next appears in "Get Him to the Greek," the quasi-sequel to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" starring Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. He's also been rumored to host the MTV Movie Awards, which would be a high-profile gig for the up-and-coming actor.
• Jennifer Garner is in talks to join Winona Ryder in the cast of Ron Howard's untitled infidelity comedy for Universal and Imagine, according to the L.A. Times and http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/winona-ryder-is-now-a-cheater">Deadline, respectively.
Ryder will play Kevin James' wife whose infidelity is discovered by her husband's best friend (Vince Vaughn), who confronts her directly and struggles with whether or not to spill the beans. Allan Loeb ("Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps") wrote the script based on an idea by Imagine's Brian Grazer.
The project marks a comeback for '80s icon Ryder, who beat out Kate Beckinsale, Carla Gugino and Uma Thurman for the coveted role, according to Entertainment Weekly. She recently wrapped "Black Swan," Darren Aronofsky's highly anticipated follow-up to "The Wrestler" and last appeared in "Star Trek" and "The Informers."
Garner last appeared in the ensemble of "Valentine's Day." She previously starred opposite Ricky Gervais in "The Invention of Lying," which I ordered last night On Demand and found to be fairly excruciating. She next stars in "Butter," which just added Rob Corddry and Ashley Greene to its cast.
