Jennifer Aniston will star opposite Robert De Niro in the drama “The Comedian,” with plans to begin production in New York early next year.
Art Linson and John Linson will produce with Courtney Solomon and Atmosphere’s Mark Canton, who are both financing. Taylor Hackford (“Ray”) will direct from Art Linson’s script.
De Niro will play a Don Rickles-style stand-up comic who specializes in insults, with the script’s stand-up material written by Comedy Central Roast mainstay Jeffrey Ross. Aniston will play a woman who becomes close to the comic after meeting him at a wedding.
Aniston has been shooting “The Yellow Birds.” She’s repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Group.
De Niro was last seen in Warner Bros.’ “The Intern” opposite Anne Hathaway and will be seen soon in David O. Russell’s “Joy,” playing the father of Jennifer Lawrence’s character.
Along with “Ray,” Hackford’s credits include “Dolores Claiborne,” “The Devil’s Advocate” and “White Knights.” He and De Niro are repped by CAA.
The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
