TSRn: Giovanni Ribisi Set, Liam Neeson In Talks for Seth MacFarlane's 'A Million Ways to Die in the West'
The Scorecard Review news
News: Liam Neeson is in talks to join the cast of Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West. Giovanni Ribisi is also on board. Production on the comedy Western is expected to begin in May. Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline
Thoughts by TSR: If there’s one thing Liam Neeson knows, it’s comedy. He knows improv, stand-up comedy, funny monologues, crazy characters, and lots more. Okay, I may or may not be referencing his appearance on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's "Life's Too Short." But that doesn't change the fact that Neeson was the driving force in one of the funniest scenes on TV last year. That knack for delivering ultra-dry humor could come in handy working with Seth MacFarlane, as I imagine the script (credited to MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild) will ask him to do something similar.
THR tells us he’s in negotiations to take the role of Charlize Theron’s outlaw husband. I like it already. A Million Ways to Die in the West will star MacFarlane as a farmer whose girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried) leaves him after he backs out of a gunfight. He then meets a notorious outlaw’s wife (Theron), and she offers to teach him how to duel so he can win back his lady.
We also have word that Giovanni Ribisi, who appeared in MacFarlane’s Ted, is on board. Deadline has that scoop, and tells us he’ll be playing the best friend of MacFarlane’s Albert. Ribisi’s Edward is a shoe repairman who puts up with a prostitute girlfriend who will have sex with everyone except him. Ribisi’s creepy fanatic was one part of Ted that felt a bit superfluous, but it sounds like he’ll fit in better this time.
Having recently rewatched Ted, I’m happy to say the rest held up as one of my favorite comedies of 2012. Sadly, I have a feeling Sam Jones won’t be taking part in A Million Ways to Die in the West. That puts it at an immediate disadvantage from MacFarlane’s debut. Still, if you can’t get Flash (AH-AHHHH!), Oskar Schindler wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.