Early Edition: 'Straight A's for Phillippe, Paquin, Wilson; Melissa McCarthy Steals Comedy Role

Sometimes studios keep their productions so under wraps that even the Hollywood press doesn't know about them until they begin shooting. Such is the case with Nu Image/Millennium Films' dramedy 'Straight A's.' According to a report in Variety, Luke Wilson, Anna Paquin and Ryan Phillippe have joined the film, which just began production in Louisiana. The story follows "a man who's been in and out of rehab for 10 years (Phillippe) and is haunted by the ghost of his dead mother pressing him to return home to the family he turned his back on years ago. He trots back to Shreveport, only to be faced with his brother's wife (Paquin), who's still pining for him, her first love." Wilson will play the husband. James Cox ('Wonderland') is directing. Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy ('Bridesmaids,' TV's 'Mike & Molly') are attached to star in the Universal comedy 'ID Theft.' According to Deadline, the film -- written by 'The Pursuit of Happyness' scribe Steve Conrad -- was about a guy who gets his identity stolen by another guy. It was written for Bateman and another actor, but that all changed after Bateman saw McCarthy in 'Bridesmaids.' Since Bateman is one of the producers of the project, he pushed for McCarthy to be the identity thief. Shooting will begin in April 2012. Rosemarie DeWitt, fresh off her acting gig on Showtime's 'United States of Tara', is in talks to take the lead role opposite Ben Stiller in Fox's 'Neighborhood Watch.' The sci-fi comedy centers around a suburban "neighborhood watch" group that gets in over its head when it uncovers a plot to destroy the world. DeWitt would play Stiller's wife. Vince Vaughn is also starring in the film, which is being prepped for a 2013 release. [The Hollywood Reporter]