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Eric Dane Joins Marley: Fox 2000’s feature adaptation of John Grogan’s mega-selling canine memoir, Marley and Me, looks fully back on track as Eric Dane joins leads Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston as the best friend who convinces Wilson’s humor-columnist character to adopt a puppy through the sheer force of his McSteaminess. [Variety]

Tim Allen Directs His Way Out of Jail: Tim Allen makes his feature directing debut with Crazy on the Outside, an indie comedy about an ex-con (Allen) who finds his life becoming much stranger once he gets out of jail, with Ray Liotta, Carrie-Anne Moss, Kelsey Grammer, and Julie Bowen all in negotiations to join the cast. Allen is prepping for the shoot by studying the work of great directors, and for the press junket by having friends repeatedly ask him “How much of this is autobiographical?” while he practices not looking annoyed. [Variety]

Gershon, McCormack Go Boeing-Boeing: The Broadway revival of Mark Camelotti’s swinging sixties hit Boeing-Boeing gets even more shagadelic as Gina Gershon and Mary McCormack sign on as two of the three stewardesses architect Bradley Whitford is juggling in his farcical romantic life. As casting is not yet complete for the third stewardess, we repeat: Zac Efron! [Playbill]

Highmore Is Astro Boy: Freddie Highmore will voice the title role in Astro Boy, a computer-animated feature based on the Osamu Tezuka–created TV series from the sixties. Producers promise that in this version, Astro Boy's mouth will match up to his words. [HR]

Asner, Alexander Spawn Gigantic: Ed Asner and sexy sexagenarian Jane Alexander join the cast of the independent comedy Gigantic as the parents of Paul Dano’s depressed mattress salesmen. Doesn’t there seem to be a generation or two missing here? Couldn’t Asner and Alexander basically be his great-grandparents? Oh, well, it’s probably some sort of tiresome indie whimsy. [HR]

Master P, Soccer Mom: Master P looks to subvert his image by starring in Soccer Mom as the parent of a young soccer player. The problem, of course, is that it’s kinda hard to pull off a Kindergarten Cop or a Tooth Fairy when most moviegoers don’t even remember who you are. [Variety]