Between 2009 and 2012 Jim Carrey only made two live-action films (Mr. Popper's Penguins and I Love You, Phillip Morris), but this year he is making a come back in a major way. In addition to the recently released The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and the upcoming Kick-Ass 2 - which will be in theaters this August - he is also attached to star in Jared Harris' Loomis Fargo and has now added yet another title to his slate, this time reuniting with Steve Oedekerk, with whom he worked on both Bruce Almighty and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Carrey has come aboard Ricky Stanicky, a long in development comedy that has been gestating over at Summit Entertainment. In addition to directing, Oedekerk will also be doing a re-write of the script, which is described as "as an ensemble comedy in the vein of The Hangover, and begins when three teens pull a prank and burn down a house in their neighborhood." In order to get away with the arson, the gang creates a fictional scapegoat named Ricky Stanicky - a name they all subsequently use to get out of any jam over the next twenty years. Unfortunately, this backfires when their girls and wives ask to meet "Ricky," so they must hire an out-of-work actor to be him.
The story doesn't mention what role Carrey will be playing in the movie, but notes that James Franco was previously attached to the Ricky role and that there was a time when Joaquin Phoenix was also considered. Jeff Bushell, whose previous credits include Beverly Hills Chihuahua, wrote the original draft and will continue to serve as a producer.
