Wilson & Oswalt Joining Reitman & Cody’s ‘Young Adult’

Charlize Theron stars in the dark comedy as a novelist who returns to her hometown in Minnesota to reconnect with old friends

Patton Oswalt will star opposite Charlize Theron in Jason Reitman's "Young Adult," and Patrick Wilson is also in talks to join the cast, individuals familiar with the project have told TheWrap.

Oscar winner Diablo Cody wrote the script, which finds the Oscar-winning actress playing a divorced ghostwriter of YA novels who returns to her hometown in Minnesota to reconnect with high school friends and track down her idealized ex-boyfriend, who is now married with kids and no longer wants anything to do with her.

Wilson will play the object of Theron's affection/obsession, while Oswalt will play her physically disabled friend who serves as the film's voice of reason as the lead character's behavior grows increasingly strange.

The pitch-black comedy reunites Reitman and Cody with "Juno" producers Mason Novick, Mandate Pictures and John Malkovich's company Mr. Mudd.

Oswalt won the role on the strength of his impressive dramatic performance in Robert Siegel's "Big Fan." The "Ratatouille" star really surprised me with his work in that under-seen indie, which serves as a strong sign of things to come from the stand-up comedian.

Production is expected to begin before the end of the year, though there's still one more major female role that hasn't been cast yet.

Wilson recently starred in "The A-Team," "The Switch" and the well-reviewed indie "Barry Munday." He'll next be seen opposite Rachel McAdams in "Morning Glory," and also stars in James Wan's "Insidious," which was a hit at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was acquired by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group.

As for Oswalt, he's set to appear in Todd Strauss-Schulson's "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas."

Both he and Wilson are represented by CAA, and the L.A. Times first reported their involvement with the project.

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