'Spring Awakening' finds McG; 'Date Night' sets its cast

By Sarah Sluis

The ebullient director McG, whose enthusiasm for his projects like Charlie's Angels and Terminator: Salvation is infectious, might just break out into song: he's attached himself as a director/producer to a film adaptation of the Broadway play Spring Awakening. The rock musical, which follows adolescent teens discovering sex and its consequences, has its roots in an 1891 play. McG's exaggerated style, which comes from his experience as a music-video director, may prove to be an asset in adapting a musical, a genre known for its stylistic flair. McG has also worked as a songwriter, which might bond him with original book and lyrics writer Steven Sater, who will work on adapting the project for the screen. Warner Bros. has a first-look deal with McG, but it's possible that the studio will pass on the project, allowing it to be set up independently.

In casting news, the plot for the Steve Carell/Tina Fey romantic comedy Date Night seems to have been further fleshed out. The original synopsis had the duo playing a couple in a funk that turns to regular date nights to revitalize their marriage. Thanks to the additional casting decisions, it now appears that the couple will go on an unforgettable date--in a "one crazy night" kind of way. Mark Wahlberg will flirt with Tina Fey, mistaking her for someone else, which is in turn exacerbated by not-so-smart con James Franco, who sees the whole thing and entangles the couple in a criminal mess. Taraji P. Henson, the Oscar nominee (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) known for her work in Tyler Perry's films, will play a good cop who tries to save the couple from danger, while rapper Common and "David Letterman" guest star Jimmi Simpson play a duo of corrupt detectives. On the home front, "Gossip Girl's" Leighton Meester plays the couple's babysitter, and "SNL's" Kristin Wiig plays Fey's best friend.

Because both Tina Fey and Steve Carell are so good at creating humor out of everyday situations, with their slightly pathetic yet endearing characters, I'm a little surprised that the comedy is going the madcap route. Still, I have to commend director Shawn Levy for aggressively casting from the top rung and securing stellar comedic actors. When I interviewed director John Hamburg of I Love You, Man earlier this year, he stressed the importance of filling a cast with the funniest people he knew, who could improv on a scene, time it, and make it fly, and it seems that Levy's doing the same thing here. Levy, who's directed mainly family-themed comedy in the past (The Pink Panther, Cheaper by the Dozen, Nickelodeon shows "The Famous Jett Jackson and "The Secret World of Alex Mack"), seems to have acquired the bug for star-filled casts directing the two Night at the Museum films. Since Fey and Carell have both been able to clear their schedules of their television obligations, filming will star in L.A. next week.