Morgan Freeman Negotiating To Join Michael Douglas & Robert De Niro In Comedy 'Last Vegas'

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by Oliver Lyttelton
May 16, 2012 4:55 PM
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Given that the two films in the franchise are the number one and number two R-rated comedies of all time, it's no surprise that studios are desperately attempting to recapture the formula of "The Hangover." Whether it's in set-up, like Sundance comedy "Bachelorette", or in spirit, like last summer's "Horrible Bosses", there are all kinds of spiritual successors to Todd Phillips' smash hit in the can or in the works, but they've all been lacking in one obvious thing: old people! Old people doing young people things are always funny! How else do you explain Betty White?

As such, CBS Films comedy "Last Vegas" is likely on to a winner, and the film's been assembling an all-star cast of pensioners for its tale of four elderly friends who head to the Sunset Strip for the bachelor party of the last of them to get hitched. Michael Douglas was the first on board, with Robert De Niro following soon after, and now Deadline reports that Morgan Freeman is in talks to join the cast as the third of the friends. There's no exact word as to who his character will be, but we presume that he won't be marrying his step-granddaughter or anything like that.

There's one slot still open, although Christopher Walken was linked to the project early on, so it may be that his deal's taking a while to close. Alternatively, we might have a whole new actor coming on board. Jack Nicholson? Hal Holbrook? Kirk Douglas? None of the above? Whoever it turns out to be, Jon Turteltaub will be directing the film, and shooting starts in September. It doesn't sound terribly promising, but the cast is great, and it's worth remembering that the script is from Dan Fogelman ("Crazy Stupid Love"), Adam Brooks ("Definitely Maybe") and Alan Yang ("Parks & Recreation"), so it could end up a cut above the competition.