'Bridesmaids' Star Melissa McCarthy Joins Judd Apatow's 'Knocked Up' Spinoff

by Kevin Jagernauth
July 7, 2011 7:44 AM
3 Comments

'Super 8' Kid Ryan Lee Also Comes Aboard

Once you're tight with Judd Apatow, you can expect regular work for the rest of your life. Melissa McCarthy, who stole the show in "Bridesmaids" -- directed by Paul Feig and produced by Apatow -- continues to roll very tight with his crew. In addition to being cast opposite Jon Hamm (amazing blog alert!) in an upcoming Feig/Apatow rom-com she's now got another Apatow gig to add to her schedule.

THR reports that McCarthy has now joined Apatow's "Knocked Up" spinoff, formerly unofficially known as "This Is Forty" (got that? it was the working title). The film will star Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd, who are reprising their roles Debbie and Pete, in the picture that will follow their relationship five years after the events of the preceding movie. McCarthy already joins an intriguing mix of old and new Apatow players including Megan Fox, Albert Brooks, Lena Dunham, Chris O’Dowd, Charlene Yi and Wyatt Russell. Also coming along for the ride is "Super 8" kid Ryan Lee, otherwise known as pyro expert Cary in J.J. Abrams' fantastic summer film.

Details are being kept mum, but here's what we know so far. O’Dowd and Dunham will play employees at the record label that Pete now runs (it seems his character has moved up in the world from being a music scout), while Russell will play a hockey player (no idea where that fits in the story just yet). McCarthy will play the Mom of Lee who attends the same school that Pete and Debbie's kids go to (which pretty much confirms Iris and Maude Apatow are back again).

Production is underway and the film will hit on December 21, 2012.

More: Actors, Actresses, Judd Apatow, Ryan Lee

3 Comments

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Mr Anonymous | July 8, 2011 2:21 AMReply

Chris O'Down is well and truly in with the Apatow crew!

Nice to see him getting a decent break in the States rather than appearing in shite like Gulliver's Travels opposite Jack Black.
AerosTwiceChastened | July 7, 2011 11:46 AMReply

An Apatow film's quality is directly tied to how much his wife/kids are in it. As such, this one promises to be the worst one yet. I hope we get to see some more of his kids' school production numbers. And, fingers crossed, a couple more full length James Taylor/Jackson Browne/miscellaneous dad rock music videos spliced in.
Rowdy Bitches | July 7, 2011 9:06 AMReply

the cast looks so good for this and then i realize that Lena Dunham is part of it and then i find myself so bored that i want to vomit.