Melissa McCarthy has outed her upcoming projects following this year’s slate which includes Friday’s release Identity Thief and the Sandra Bullock-starrer The Heat bowing in June. THR has the story that the actress’ production company (On the Day) will be producing three new titles, two of which are being prepared for the Mike & Molly lead as starring vehicles.
The first project is called Michelle Darnell and it is based on an original character from McCarthy. She also drafted the story alongside her husband Ben Falcone with Steve Mallory coming on board to help flesh out the script. There is no logline just yet, but look for more information on that in the near future. Universal is distributing.
In regards to vehicle number two, that one is called Just Do It, and it is based on the sex-help book Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned On their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses!) McCarthy will produce this one as well alongside Michael Aguilar whose credits include The Crazies and The Departed. The story comes from Douglas Brown who recounts his and his wife’s 101 day sex marathon. This is a comedy being developed for Fox who happens to be backing The Heat.
Rounding things out, THR also reported on a project at Universal called Cousin Irv From Mars which McCarthy is producing. They do not say if there is a part for her in this one, but the trade does mention it comes from an upcoming book by Bruce Eric Kaplan who is a cartoonist for The New Yorker. His screen credits include Seinfeld and Six Feet Under as well as HBO’s Girls on which he serves on as a producer. Cousin Irv tells the story of a boy and his weird cousin from Mars.
Update 2/7: It is being reported today that one of Melissa McCarthy’s already-announced projects may be finding its way out of developmental hell. The raunchy comedy Tammy which stars the Mike & Molly actress could get green-lit at New Line following the news that McCarthy herself might co-direct the project. The film was originally set up after Bridesmaids, but gradually slid from view following the departure of the unrelated Beth McCarthy who was set to helm the feature. This news is said to give Tammy the boost it needs to get back on track.