It feels like there was no time at all between the release of Bridesmaids and the news about Melissa McCarthy's passion project, Tammy. Co-written by the Oscar nominee and her husband Ben Falcone, the raunchy comedy tells the story of a woman who loses her job and discovers her husband cheating, and decides to go on a long road trip with her alcoholic, foul-mouthed diabetic grandmother. But as much as that sounds like a winning plot, the film has had a hard time actually getting made. The Help's Tate Taylor was attached to direct at one point before dropping it, and then the same wound up happening with 30 Rock/Modern Family filmmaker Beth McCarthy.
But Tammy has found its second wind in recent weeks. Taking a do-it-yourself attitude, McCarthy and Falcone announced that they would be making their co-directorial debut with the film, in addition to serving as producers and having McCarthy star, and today arrives news that they have found their actress to play grandma, as well as another actor to play a key supporting role
Susan Sarandon, most recently seen alongside Dwayne Johnson in the thriller Snitch, and Kathy Bates are both now in talks to co-star with McCarthy in the new comedy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While Sarandon will be playing the role of McCarthy's granny, Bates' role is described as being "the grandmother’s lesbian friend who saves the duo from some bad spots." According to the trade, there was once a time where Shirley MacLaine was in discussions about taking on Sarandon's potential part, but a deal could not be reached.
The project is set up at New Line with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay also serving as producers on the movie. We still don't know when production is scheduled to start, but if casting is getting this serious then it probably won't be too long from now.
