Categories: LocalMovie News

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston set to star in ‘Pretend Wife’

Jennifer Aniston has appeared with a lot of leading funny men since she broke out with Friends. This list includes Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, and Jim Carrey. She has yet to have a starring role beside one of Hollywood’s leading comedy heavyweights, Adam Sandler. Looks like things might be changing.

From THR.com


Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston might be playing pretend.

Columbia is developing “Pretend Wife,” a romantic comedy that would serve as a Sandler vehicle and is in the process of gathering the wedding party.

Aniston is in talks to star opposite Sandler, with Sandler mainstay Dennis Dugan the leading contender to direct the project, though no deals have been made as the studio is figuring out the seating arrangement.

Happy Madison is producing.

The script, written by Allan Loeb and Tim Dowling and once known as “Holiday in Hawaii,” is being kept under wraps. Columbia is planning a shoot early next year and eyeing a release on Feb. 11, 2011, the Friday before Valentine’s Day.

Heather Parry brought the project into Happy Madison and is shepherding. At Columbia, the project is being overseen by Doug Belgrad and Sam Dickerman.

Sandler, repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, next appears in Columbia’s ensemble comedy “Grown Ups,” produced by Happy Madison and Relativity Media.

UTA-repped Dugan, who has worked with Sandler since 1996’s “Happy Gilmore,” directed “Grown Ups.”

Aniston, repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, has romantic comedies “The Baster” with Jason Bateman and “The Bounty” with Gerard Butler in the can for release next year.


From all I’ve heard Adam Sandler is supposed to be one of the nicer guys working in Hollywood. He makes some terrible films though (I’m looking at you Mr. Deeds and Little Nicky). Every once in a while one of his films shows a glimmer of true comedy, and it makes me optimistic that Sandler might produce something that isn’t trying to be Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore.

Blake Fehl

Member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. Co-Founder of Saint Brewis and Review St. Louis. Digital Strategist by day, film/beer/hockey fanatic by night.

Recent Posts

Concert Photos: Joe Satriani and Steve Vai at The Factory

The Satch/Vai tour made a stop at a packed Factory on Tuesday evening. Photos by…

4 hours ago

Comedy Review: Nikki Glaser laughs it up at The Fox Theatre

STL’s own Nikki Glaser performed at the Fox Theatre Saturday night as a stop on…

3 days ago

Concert Photos: Greta Van Fleet rocks out at Chaifetz Arena

Rock band Greta Van Fleet played to a sold-out crowd at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday…

3 days ago

Concert Photos: Cypress Hill with Souls of Mischief and The Pharcyde at Uptown Theater

Legendary hip-hop group Cypress Hill made a stop at The Uptown Theater in Kansas City…

3 days ago

Concert Photos: Silversun Pickups with Rocket at The Hawthorn

The Silversun Pickups tour made a stop at The Hawthorn in St. Louis on April…

4 days ago

Concert Photos: Sum 41, The Interruptors and Joey Valence & Brae at The Factory

Sum 41 brought its 'Tour of the Setting Sum' Tour to The Factory on April…

6 days ago