Paul Dano isn’t exactly the first person you think of to star in an action comedy. He’s better know for indie flicks like Little Miss Sunshine and Fast Food Nation, while also getting rather serious in There Will Be Blood and Gigantic. However that hasn’t stopped writer/director James Mangold from casting him in his currently untitled Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise action comedy (formerly known as Wichita).
The film is about a lonely woman (Diaz) whose seemingly harmless blind date suddenly turns her life upside-down when a super spy (Cruise) takes her on a violent worldwide journey to protect a powerful battery that holds the key to an infinite power source. Dano will play the mysterious scientist who invented the battery.
Others already announced for the movie include Marc Blucas and Maggie Grace.
It’s certainly an interesting move for Dano, who so far has carefully avoided anything that was too mainstream or Hollywood. Even having a voice part in the upcoming Where The Wild Things Are has the indie cred of director Spike Jonze attached to it. However the Cruise/Diaz movie is certainly a step into the blockbuster arena.
Mangold’s movie is due to start filming next month.