'New Girl' Stand-Out Max Greenfield Joins Paul Rudd & Amy Poehler In 'They Came Together'

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by Oliver Lyttelton
May 16, 2012 7:18 PM
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You'd be forgiven for having tuned out of, or indeed never ventured near, Fox's Zooey Deschanel-starring sitcom "New Girl." The series, about an oddball girl who moves in with three male housemates, had a generic premise, an infuriating ad campaign, and a very patchy first few episodes. But over time, it's very much found its foot: the writing's gotten sharp and very funny, the direction's been strong (thanks to a selection of indie talent including John Hamburg, Miguel Arteta, Jesse Peretz, Lynn Shelton, and Nanette Burnstein) and the cast have gelled into an impressive comic ensemble. It's not going to change your life or anything, but it's steadily evolved into a highly enjoyable show.

First and foremost among the cast is Max Greenfield, who plays progressive douchebag Schmidt on the show. Starting out as a stereotype, the character's gotten richer and weirder over time, and Greenfield, a familiar face from "Veronica Mars" and "Ugly Betty" has consistently stolen the show, even among a very talented cast. He's been one of the big breakouts of the TV season, and it looks like he's heading to the big screen, as Deadline reports that Greenfield has signed on to join Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler in the romantic comedy spoof "They Came Together," from "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Role Models" director David Wain (who also directed a "New Girl" episode this season).

According to the site, Greenfield will play the no-good younger brother of Rudd's character, a corporate tycoon out to conquer the store run by Poehler's (the latter two presumably falling for each other). The film, announced last week, is penned by Wain and former "The State" cohort Michael Showalter, and promises to riff on the conventions of the romantic comedy genre. It's certainly a comedy we're excited about, and Greenfield's a great addition to an already-strong cast. Filming gets underway soon, taking advantage of Poehler and Greenfield's TV hiatuses, so we should see the film sometime in 2013.

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