Schmucks get girl

I would imagine it’d be difficult to get cast in a comedy where your three co-stars are Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis and that’s the challenge facing newcomer Stephanie Szostak. The actress, who has a small part in the upcoming Uma Thurman comedy MOTHERHOOD, has signed on to play the female lead in DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS, the upcoming comedy from director Jay Roach (AUSTIN POWERS, MEET THE PARENTS).

The film stars Rudd as a guy who’s invited to a party by a host (Galifianakis) with an usual condition: everyone must bring the most pathetic loser of a guest they can find. Rudd finds Carell’s character who turns out to be more than anyone bargained for. Szostak will play Rudd’s girlfriend in the film. The project, a remake of a French film, has been in development for years and at one time had Sacha Baron Cohen attached to play the schmuck. Filming is set to begin this fall for a big July release next year.