He may still be most famous for The IT Crowd, but it seems Chris O’Dowd could have a bit of comedy future in Hollywood. He was seen in last year’s Dinner For Schmucks and Gulliver’s Travels, has parts in the upcoming Bridesmaids and Friends With Kids, and has now joined the cast of Judd Apatow’s currently untitled Knocked Up spin-off.
According to Variety, other new cast members include Lena Dunham (Apatows upcoming HBO show, Girls), Charlyne Yi (Paper Hearts, Knocked Up) and Wyatt Russell (Cowboys & Aliens).
The spin-off won’t follow the exploits of Seth Rogen or Katherine Heigl’s characters, instead moving the action across to the married couple played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, Paul and Debbie. Rumoured to be called This Is Forty, there’s few details on the plot of the movie, although it would seem encroaching middle age may be the theme. ODowd and Dunham will play employees of the record label were Rudd work, Russell will be a hockey player, while Yi will reprise the role of stoner-girl Jodi from Knocked Up. There’s no news however if other Knocked Up characters will also return – after publicly questioning whether the first movie was a tad sexist, I’d imagine Heigl is out, but Rogen popping up is a strong possibility, as are other member of Apatow’s regular crew.
The film, which was due summer 2012, will now reach cinemas just before Christmas that year instead.