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Reese Witherspoon and Sacha Baron Cohen to Downsize

Reese Witherspoon, Sacha Baron Cohen and Paul Giamatti will all star together in Downsizing, a new film from Alexander Payne, who directed Witherspoon in her breakout role in the critically acclaimed indie film Election and who also directed Giamatti in Sideways.

The film is expected to be set up at Fox Searchlight, where Payne has a first-look deal. Due to the subject matter, the film will incorporate special effects, which could require a bigger studio with deeper pockets to finance and distribute the film. Witherspoon and Giamatti are set to play a married couple with no funds who think they can enjoy life by retiring as "little people." Witherspoon's wife pulls out of the deal, leaving her hubby Giamatti lingering in a tiny state. Baron Cohen would play a dual role of a tiny Spaniard and his regular-sized twin brother. The script is currently being written and revised, and it's said that Baron Cohen's role may change as a result of the writing process.

The actors will fully commit to the project and their roles once Payne finishes the script.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
03.11.09