Anna Faris To Star In Stalker-Roommate Comedy, Will Take Less Crazy Lead Role

Lots of buzz is building around Anna Faris these days. She was recently the subject of an extensive — if somewhat early, and kind of random — profile in the New Yorker that looked over her career, chatted about the making of the forthcomingWhat’s Your Number?” and even got her opinion on past films like “Observe and Report” and “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” The actress is the executive producer on “What’s Your Number?” and is working hard to get projects suited to her sensibilities instead of waiting for the right script to land on her doorstep.

THR reports — though it was revealed in the pages of the New Yorker a week ago — that Paramount has picked up a stalker-roommate comedy from Faris, which she will produced and star in, that was developed with screenwriter Deanna Kizis. And while the plot details are apparently “under wraps,” they were discussed in detail in the aforementioned profile.

The plot centers on Paige, a nurse who takes a new roommate named Ginny and they quickly become best friends. Or so it seems. Ginny pretends to share the same enthusiasm for all the things Paige likes including cooking, ’80s movies, high-desert country and doll-house crime scenes (these were some of the ideas batted around in a pitch meeting in February, so not all those likes/dislikes may stick). Of course, Ginny turns out to be a nut with some dark plans of her own.

As for what role she’ll take on, while the crazed Ginny seems a perfect fit for Faris’ wacky comedic sensibilities she told the magazine, “But all the guys on my team want me to play Paige, because she’s the lead.” Noting that Paige is sort of the straight role of the film who has to be likable and relatable to moviegoers and would “constrain” Faris’ comedic skills, the actress wound up taking the less zany part when the deal was closed. Too bad.

No word yet on where in her schedule this will fall, but “What’s Your Number?” is slated to open on September 30th.