Penn, Del Toro, and Carrey are the ‘Three Stooges’

Published by Jeff Leins on March 26, 2009

In what is either the greatest practical joke since Joaquin Phoenix’s rap career or the strangest casting line-up ever, MGM has selected three A-list actors to play The Three Stooges for the Farrelly brothers (There’s Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber).

Sean Penn will play Larry, Benicio Del Toro will play Moe, and Jim Carrey will play Curly.  No, seriously.

MGM told the trades this week they’ve already locked in this year’s “Best Actor” for the part and are in final negotiations with Carrey, who is already planning to gain 40 pounds for the role.  The studio is still attempting to sign Del Toro as the third Stooge.

The Farrellys have been trying to make this movie for over a decade.  Last November they even set an aggressive release date of November 2009 for the movie, but with production starting this fall that obviously won’t be the case anymore.  It’s looking like a 2010 premiere, unless of course this is all an early April Fool’s joke.

Do you believe this?  Sean Penn?  Really?  Wasn’t the last comedy he was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982?