After Anne Hathaway successfully brought back one of her most beloved characters through The Devil Wears Prada 2, I’ve been curious about what’s been going on with The Princess Diaries 3. Thankfully, Meg Cabot, the author behind The Princess Diaries books, just shared a really exciting update about one of my most-anticipated upcoming Disney movies.

Anne Hathaway officially announced The Princess Diaries 3 was happening back in 2024 (via Instagram), but the actress and producer has also been busier than ever lately, between leading five films on the 2026 movie schedule and announcing that she's pregnant with her third child. Luckily, the book's author has an update about a return to Genovia, as she said:

Shut up! This makes me so happy to hear. Since The Princess Diaries 3 was announced, it sounds like there’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make the movie the best it can be before cameras start rolling. I appreciate the care going into the movie, and what Meg Cabot told THR has me more excited that the film is finally shaping up.

She also said that she’s seen several versions of the sequel since it's been in development, and it’s now gotten to the point where she’s completely satisfied with where the script is now. In her words:

The Princess Diaries 3 is set to be directed by Adele Lim, who previously helmed the 2023 comedy Joy Ride and co-wrote both Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon. In the director’s latest update from last month, she said that it's been taking so long because she and the other producers are committed to “make the story right” since the franchise is “so beloved by so many people.”

Lim also hinted that the movie will be a rare wish-fulfillment movie about a queen, a “woman in her full power.” She also said they are planning to shoot the movie in Europe to “really show the audience Genovia in its full glory,” and fans of the first two movies can expect “a lot of fun returns.”

When it comes to who’s returning, aside from Anne Hathaway, I have a lot of questions and hopes. The main person I want to see back is Julie Andrews, who has previously said she’d be “happy” to do another one, but the 90-year-old hasn’t been doing much acting lately aside from voice work.

Considering everything on Anne Hathaway’s plate right now, I don’t see this movie fully taking off until next year, but Meg Cabot’s comments definitely have me anticipating the movie even more now.

Minor spoilers ahead for Hocus Pocus 2.

If there is one quintessential Halloween movie it’s probably 1993’s original Hocus Pocus. While it was originally a flop, it became a cult classic that’s been passed down across generations. And after three decades, a sequel was finally filmed and released on Disney+ (see our review here). There are plenty of delightful callbacks to the original throughout its runtime, Hocus Pocus 2 has one touching easter egg you might have missed.

The events of Hocus Pocus 2 once again see the Sanderson Sisters rise from the dead after the black flame candle was lit on Halloween night. Director Anne Fletcher and screenwriter Jen D’Angelo include lots of fun easter eggs throughout the movie, but there was one that really hit me in my feelings. Namely the footage of late icons and siblings Garry and Penny Marshall from the original movie. 

Around halfway through the runtime of Hocus Pocus 2, the three witches search Salem for the trio of young protagonists. During this sequence Bette Midler’s Winnifred Sanderson flies by a house, where a couple is laughing and watching TV. And the clip is actually from the first movie, as you can see below:

This scene, complete with Bette Midler knowing looking on, is a surprisingly heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker and actors. Both Penny and Garry Marshall forever left their mark in the industry as a whole, which is why so many fans out there mourned when they passed away in 2018 and 2016 respectively. Luckily Hocus Pocus 2 featured the perfect tribute to that beloved sibling duo.

While Hocus Pocus 2 only featured a handful of returning characters, the spirit of the fist movie definitely flows throughout the streaming sequel. The myriad easter eggs help provide connective tissue, while the tribute to Penny and Garry Marshall also gives respect where respect is due.

Funny enough, this isn’t the only easter egg in Hocus Pocus 2 that’s all about Penny and Garry Marshall’s truly iconic scene from the original movie. Two Salem residents are actually dressed up as their characters on Halloween night, and are shown briefly waiting behind Tony Hale in line for candy apples. You can see an quick glimpse of them below,

Between these two moments, it truly is heartwarming to see how much love and respect was paid for the pair of late filmmaker/actors in Hocus Pocus 2. While director Anne Fletcher had some very big expectations to meet, the critical reception for the streaming sequel has been rather warm. We’ll just have to wait and see how the generations of fans take to the Sanderson Sisters’ latest adventures through Salem.

Both Hocus Pocus movies are currently streaming on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2022 premiere list to plan your next movie experience. 

From time to time, a movie comes around and catches lightening in a bottle when it comes to its cast, and there are few movies that are a better example of this than Penny Marshall’s 1992 baseball drama A League of Their Own. With a lineup that is led by Geena Davis, just one year after the game-changer that was Thelma and Louise, and Tom Hanks right before his career reached the next level, A League of Their Own’s cast had a lot going for it and each member made the most of their time both on and off the baseball field.

It has been nearly 30 years since we first learned of the names of Jimmy Dugan, Dottie Hinson, Kit Keller, Marla Hooch (what a hitter), and the rest of the Rockford Peaches, and you are probably wondering what they’ve been up to lately. Well, look no further, as we have put together a comprehensive list of the A League of Their Own cast and what they’re up to these days…

Tom Hanks (Jimmy Dugan)

Tom Hanks, though already an established star with more than a few successful movies under his belt, became one of the biggest stars of the 1990s in the years following his turn as the Rockford Peaches’ alcoholic coach Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own. Within three years of the film’s release, Hanks would have two Oscars (Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) and become the voice of one of the most groundbreaking animated franchises in Toy Story.

In recent years, Tom Hanks, who hasn’t really slowed down all that much, has continued to contribute to the Toy Story franchise while also portraying Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, to name only a few films. Hanks will soon appear in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.

Geena Davis (Dottie Hinson)

Geena Davis’ Dottie Hinson was the heart (and oftentimes the brains) behind the Rockford Peaches throughout A League of Their Own, and it’s hard to think of a better actress to fill her shoes. Since leaving the diamond, Davis has continued to lead a successful on-screen career which has seen her lead the Stuart Little franchise and even star in her own sitcom, The Geena Davis Show.

In the past few years, the Academy Award winner (The Accidental Tourist), has provided her talents to movies like Ava and television shows like GLOW on Netflix, where she portrayed the wrestling promotion’s benefactor, Sandy Devereaux St. Clair, in the third and unfortunately final season.

Lori Petty (Kit Keller)

In the nearly 30 years since providing audiences with one of the best representations of overlooked younger siblings in A League of Their Own’s Kit Keller (which was only her fourth film role), Lori Petty has gone on to lead cult classics like Tank Girl and appear in celebrated series like Orange is the New Black, where she portrayed Lolly Whitehill off and on throughout the show’s run. Petty has a few projects in the work right now, including a film with the title You’re All Gonna Die and a HBO Max original called Station Eleven.

Madonna (Mae Mordabito)

It is hard to imagine a world in which anyone but Madonna played “All the Way” Mae Mordabito in A League of Their Own, and thankfully that’s something we’ll never have to do. The singer-turned-actress would go on to have her biggest film hit four years later with Evita, which earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. And, while her acting career slowed down over the years, Madonna has continued to be an inventive and driving force in the music industry, with her most recent album — Madame X — being released in 2019.

Rosie O’Donnell (Doris Murphy)

Rosie O’Donnell, who made her film debut as Doris Murphy in A League of Their Own, went on to appear in a few of the most beloved movies of the 1990s including Sleepless in Seattle and Tarzan, but the comedian-turned-actress really made her mark in the realm of television. Since getting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, she has gone on to host The View and on multiple occasions and appeared in scripted shows like Queer as Folk, The View, Nip/Tuck, and, more recently, SMILF. O’Donnell, who famously came out on television following 9/11, is an outspoken supporter for LGTBQ rights.

Tracy Reiner (Betty Horn)

Tracy Reiner, the daughter of A League of Their Own’s director Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner, became one of a few members of the original cast to reprise their roles in the 1993 television program of the same name, portraying Betty “Spaghetti” Horn. Following the movie and show (which only lasted six episodes), Reiner went on to appear in Apollo 13 and That Thing You Do!, later showing up in The Princess Diaries and Valentine’s Day (both directed by her uncle Garry Marshall). Since her mother’s death in 2018, Reiner has continued Marshall’s legacy and contributions to various causes.

Anne Ramsay (Helen Haley)

Anne Ramsay was just coming up in the industry when she joined A League of Their Own’s cast in 1992 as Helen Haley, the same year her most famous show, Mad About You, debuted. Over the years, Ramsay has played recurring roles on a number of iconic series like The L Word and Six Feet Under, with one-off appearances on shows like Castle, House, and Animal Kingdom. One of her most prominent roles as of late was in 2019’s Bombshell, in which she portrayed former Fox News personality Greta Van Susteren.

Megan Cavanagh (Marla Hooch)

Marla Hooch, who was quite a hitter in A League of Their Own, was portrayed by Megan Cavanagh. In the years since playing the Rockford Peaches’ best batter, Cavanagh has gone on to show up on a number of shows including Roseanne, ER, The West Wing, and Drunk History, where she portrayed Penny Marshall in a 2019 episode about the history of baseball. You may also even recognize Cavanagh’s voice from the various Jimmy Neutron movies and television programs.

Bitty Schram (Evelyn Gardner)

To some, Bitty Schram will always be Evelyn Gardner, the Rockford Peach on the receiving end of the famous “There’s no crying in baseball” line in A League of Their Own, but others will remember her from her performance as Sharona Fleming from the first three seasons of the USA Network mystery-comedy series, Monk. Outside of those two famous roles, Schram has appeared on Felicity, The Ghost Whisperer, and Kitchen Confidential over the years.

Ann Cusack (Shirley Baker)

Ann Cusack (yes, she’s the sister of Joan and John Cusack), has come a long way since playing the shy and illiterate Rockford Peach in A League of Their Own, with roles in movies like Gross Pointe Blanke, America’s Sweethearts, and Nightcrawler over the years. Where Cusack really shines, however, is in television, where she has appeared on everything from Frasier to Fargo. She has also had prominent roles recently with shows like The Boys, Castle Rock, and Station 19.

Freddie Simpson (Ellen Sue Gotlander)

Freddie Simpson, who played Ellen Sue Gotlander in A League of Their Own, only has a few more acting credits to her name following the 1992 baseball movie. After leaving acting behind, Simpson spent years teaching drama to underprivileged children before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, where she owns and operates an acupuncture company.

Renée Coleman (Alice Gasper)

Renée Coleman appeared as Alice Gasper in A League of Their Own, but would leave acting behind a few years later and entered the field of Mythological Studies, and specializes in the art of DreamTending. She even published a book on the subject titled Icons of a Dreaming Heart in 2012.

Garry Marshall (Walter Harvey)

Garry Marshall, the acclaimed film and television legend who was also Penny Marshall’s older brother, portrayed AAGPBL founder Walter Harvey in A League of Their Own. Already an icon by the time he appeared in his sister’s 1992 baseball movie, Marshall went on to appear in countless films, shows, and specials over the years while also writing and directing his fair share of projects. In the years leading up to his death in 2016, Marshall released movies like The Other Sister, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, and its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

David Strathairn (Ira Lowenstein)

David Strathairn, who appears in A League of Their Own as AAGPBL general manager Ira Lowenstein, has gone on to have a remarkable career including a turn as Edward R. Murrow in 2005’s Good Night, and Good Luck, which netted him nearly a dozen nominations. Strathairn most recently appeared in the Academy Award-winning drama Nomadland.

Jon Lovitz (Ernie Capadino)

Jon Lovitz only appears in the first few minutes of A League of Their Own, but his portrayal of the physically and mentally exhausted scout known as Ernie Capadino is one of his best performances. Over the years, Lovitz has lent his voice to the underrated animated series The Critic, appeared on The Goldbergs, and has even showed up on A.P. Bio.

Bill Pullman (Bob Hinson)

And then there is Bill Pullman, who shows up as Dottie’s G.I. husband, Bob Hinson, in A League of Their Own. Already a star by the time he took on the small yet important role, Pullman went on to appear in everything from a small summer movie called Independence Day, to the 2019 legal drama Dark Waters and oh so much more in between. Pullman generated a ton of buzz in the summer of 2021 when he led Budweiser’s amazing commercial.

These are just the major players from the A League of Their Own cast and doesn’t even touch on the dreaded Racine Belles. Maybe next season…

While many would agree that (most) Christmas movies are best when reserved for the Christmas season, if you ask me, of all the films set on holidays, Halloween movies are the one kind that can be enjoyed all year long. Just ask any Disney+ subscriber you know how many times they have streamed Hocus Pocus since it launched in November 2019. Include yourself in that pool, too, and make sure to be honest.

But, hey, no need to worry because there is no shame in repeat viewings of one of the most celebrated movies in the realm of both Disney nostalgia and cinematic celebrations of All Hallow’s Eve in history. In fact, it appears that a sequel to Hocus Pocus is in development almost three decades since the original - in which three children accidentally resurrect a trio of legendary witches in Salem - was first released. Can you picture Max Dennison, his sister Dani, and love interest Allison battling the Sanderson Sisters now as adults?

You might be not be able to, come to think of it, if you have not been keeping up with the main Hocus Pocus cast and their subsequent career efforts. Well, since Hocus Pocus 2 seems to really be more than just a bunch of “hocus pocus” after all, let us prepare take a look at the biggest stars of the 1993 family classic and what magic they have been conjuring onscreen or even offscreen, starting with the most wicked witch of them all… in the Disney catalog, that is.

Bette Midler (Winifred Sanderson)

She plays one vile, treacherous villain, but Bette Midler is truly one of the most talented and celebrated stars of the stage and screen with multiple nominations and wins from every major award you could think of. She followed up Hocus Pocus by playing herself on sitcoms like Seinfeld and The Nanny, made enemies with one of her Sanderson Sisters in The First Wives Club, had her own short-lived, self-titled sitcom in the early 2000s, and more recently played real-life activist Bella Abzug in The Glorias. In addition to reprising Grandma in the upcoming The Addams Family 2, Bette Midler also seems ready to bring Winifred Sanderson back from the dead for a new installment.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson)

The Sanderson Sister antagonized by Bette Midler in 1995’s The First Wives Club was Sarah - played by a then 27-year-old Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus. Her defining role, which won her two Emmys and four Golden Globes, was Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO hit Sex and the City 1998-2004, which she reprised in two feature-length spin-offs, and later found a way to return to her dancing roots by producing the series City.Ballet for AOL. The now 55-year-old actress, and wife of Matthew Broderick, more recently received praise for the another HBO dramedy, Divorce, with Thomas Haden Church as her onscreen ex.

Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson)

One of the more underrated performers from Hocus Pocus and comedy in general, I believe, is Kathy Najimy, who reprised her role as Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit the same year she played the brighter than Sarah, but still quite dim, Mary Sanderson. Perhaps her best known role is the voice of Peggy on King of the Hill, which she starred on at the same time as shorter-lived fashion industry-based sitcom Veronica’s Closet, but most of her appearances since have been recurring TV roles, like on HBO’s political satire Veep, or additional voice work, like in Wall-E or her reprisal of Mary Sanderson on Robot Chicken.

Omri Katz (Max Dennison)

The peak of Omri Katz’s popularity as an actor is, undoubtedly, playing Max Dennison - the virgin who lit the Black Flame candle - but he is still remembered by some for his earlier role on primetime soap opera Dallas in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and as the lead of Twin Peaks-esque kids show and cult classic Eerie, Indiana. Following guest spots on Freaks and Geeks and General Hospital, Katz would retire from acting in the early 2000s, but has been sure to acknowledge the fanbase he acquired from Hocus Pocus by participating in recent cast reunions. These days, he makes a living running the cannabis culture business, The Mary Danksters.

Thora Birch (Dani Dennison)

You might not have realized Thora Birch is still acting decades after playing Max’s spunky sister at 11 years old, which led to more mature films like Now & Then, the Academy Award-winning American Beauty, and her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Ghost World opposite Scarlett Johansson. She would also take on spookier circumstances than Hocus Pocus, most notably her recurring role as a leading member of the Whisperers on Season 10 of The Walking Dead. That same year, in 2019, Birch appeared in the critically acclaimed The Last Black Man in San Francisco, so do not be so quick to wonder what happened to Dani Dennison when she has been right under your nose this whole time.

Vinessa Shaw (Allison)

The same goes for Vinessa Shaw, who is now 44, but has barely aged a day since she played Max’s classmate and crush Allison. Like her Hocus Pocus co-star Thora Birch, Shaw would quickly go take on more adult-oriented content, including playing a sex worker in Stanely Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, as well as roles of a scarier variety, like 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes remake or the 2017 Netflix original psychological thriller Clinical. Also, be sure to look out for her next time you watch 2010 western 3:10 to Yuma, Steven Soderbergh’s Side Effects, or Season 2 of the hit Showtime drama Ray Donovan with Liev Schreiber.

Sean Murray (Thackery Binx)

You know, there was a moment during my recent rewatch of Hocus Pocus when I thought that Thackery Binx was played by Devon Sawa of Casper and Final Destination fame until I discovered it was Sean Murray. Though, to be fair, the 43-year-old actor, who first broke into cinema opposite Robert DeNiro and a young Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boy’s Life, looks almost nothing like he did in 1993. The older brother of One Tree Hill star Chad Michael Murray has since found steady work in television, in a recurring role on JAG before becoming a series regular on NCIS as cybersecurity specialist Timothy McGee.

Jason Marsden (Thackery Binx - Cat Voice)

Sean Murray was actually not the only one in Hocus Pocus to play Thackery Binx, whose immortal cat form is actually one of many notable voice acting roles of Jason Marsden (no relation to James, in case you were wondering). While you may have seen his face on ‘90s sitcoms like Boy Meets World, Full House, and Step By Step, his voice is probably a bigger part of your childhood than you realize, having played Max Goof in A Goofy Movie and its sequel, Haku in the English-language version of Spirited Away, and countless animated movies and TV shows based on both DC and Marvel comics. In 2020, he began hosting The Mars Variety Show - a tribute to live performance series of the ’60s and ‘70s he created and streams through YouTube.

Amanda Shepherd (Emily Binx)

There is only one actress, however, who played Thackery Binx’s ill-fated sister Emily in Hocus Pocus’ dark opening and bitter sweet finale, but not the one some previously assumed. While the role was credited online for years to Jodie-Amy Rivera (who was merely an extra), the role was actually the first and last for Amanda Shepherd, who is more recently a Malibu realtor who moonlights as a musician, according to an interview with Cosmopolitan in 2015. Shepherd does take pride in still getting recognized for the Disney role, which she proved by appearing in Freeform’s 2018 TV special celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary.

Doug Jones (Billy Butcherson)

If you failed to recognize Doug Jones in a crowd, he would probably understand since the distinctly limber and chameleonic actor has rarely played a role allowed him to show his face - a reputation that essentially began by playing friendly zombie Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus. It is his many, many collaborations with Guillermo del Toro (including Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies, two roles in Pan’s Labyrinth, and the Amphibian Man in the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water) that made him an influential icon in the craft of hiding in plain sight. Jones currently has a starring role as Saru on the CBS All Access exclusive Star Trek: Discovery and will play Count Orlok in a remake of Nosferatu, which is now in post-production.

Garry Marshall (Devil)

One of the funniest bits in Hocus Pocus is when the Sanderson Sisters mistake a middle-age man dressed in a devilish Halloween costume as their “master.” This was a cameo by actor and filmmaker Garry Marshall, who had previously directed Better Midler’s 1988 film Beaches, Julia Roberts in 1990’s Pretty Woman and, later, Anne Hathaway’s The Princess Diaries movies. In 2016, the final year of his life, Marshall produced and guest starred on a series reboot of The Odd Couple and directed Mother’s Day, the last of his holiday-themed rom-coms, before passing away from pneumonia at 81.

Penny Marshall (The Master’s Wife)

Playing Garry Marshall’s wife in Hocus Pocus (for reasons the world may never understand) was Penny Marshall, his real life sister. The former, Golden Globe-nominated star of Happy Days spin-off Laverne & Shirley would later follow in her older brother’s footsteps with a very successful, if not relatively brief, filmmaking career that ranged from fantasy comedies like Big to historical dramas like A League of Their Own - both of which starred Tom Hanks. Even after giving up directing, Marshall would continue to act every once in a while until her death in 2018, due to complications with diabetes, at the age of 75.

What do you think? Was it a little too weird to you seeing the Marshall siblings play a couple in Hocus Pocus, or is that actually far from your own personal problems with the film? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the legacy of Disney’s beloved Halloween tradition, as well as even more inside looks into the careers of your favorite movie and TV show cast members, here on CinemaBlend.

This year Julia Roberts celebrates an illustrious 30-year career as a Hollywood actress that started with her breakout role in 1988's Mystic Pizza. But Roberts became a household name when she starred in the Cinderella story Pretty Woman about a prostitute named Vivian who falls in love with businessman Edward, played by Richard Gere. When the classic rom-com had its Broadway debut over the summer, the throwback musical served as a poignant reminder for Roberts. In her words:

Hand a symbolic tissue to Julia Roberts, because sounds like it was a bit of a rough watch for the actress. Garry Marshall was the director of Pretty Woman, and playbook co-writer for the Broadway version with the movie's original screenwriter J.F. Lawton. Marshall died in 2016 at 81 years old, soon after working with Roberts on his last directorial project Mother's Day. The pair also worked together on the rom-coms Runaway Bride and Valentine's Day. In her cover interview for Entertainment Weekly, Roberts recalled a time when Marshall surprised her about the Broadway project her was working on during a lunch at her house.

Garry Marshall left a momentous mark on comedy television and film that started a a writer in '60s with The Dick Van Dyke Show, continued in the '70s and '80s with The Odd Couple, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. He then moved over to the director's chair producing hits like Overboard, Beaches and The Princess Diaries movies. Putting perhaps his iconic movie on Broadway was one of the last things he worked on, though he never saw it completely come together in New York City.

The Broadway version of Pretty Woman stars Samantha Barks as Vivian, who was Les Misérables' Éponine, and Tony-winning actor Steve Kazee who was previously in the Broadway version of Once. The inclusion of Pretty Woman on Broadway continues a string of musical adaptations of popular romantic comedies such as Mean Girls, Legally Blonde and the upcoming Clueless musical which will arrive late November. Considering Pretty Woman is still one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies ever, it was only a matter of time before Julia Roberts would see another iteration of her most iconic role.

While Julia Roberts began her career as a rom-com actress, she recently said her days with the genre are likely over as she continues to take on dramatic roles. Before the end of 2018, Roberts is starring in an Amazon original series Homecoming from the creator of Mr. Robot and in family drama Ben is Back. It all started with her role in Pretty Woman that wouldn't have put her on the map without director Garry Marshall leading her through its production.

Among the many entertainers that passed away in 2016 was television legend Garry Marshall, who spent a big chunk of his 81 years creating and producing some of TV's most classic shows. And though it's coming five months after Marshall's death, the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple paid tribute to him in a fantastic way for last night's episode, which brought in a host of stars from several of Marshall's most popular comedies.

The episode was titled "Taffy Days," a pun-riffic take on Happy Days, and it centered on Matthew Perry's Oscar coming to grips with the death of his candy-making father Walter, a character Garry Marshall appeared as in a past episode. Barely a couple of minutes passed before we saw the first famous face, Happy Days' star and filmmaker Ron Howard. He played Walter's numbskull of an attorney who gave the episode its driving force by revealing Walter's last wish was to have his ashes spread in the river behind the old taffy factory he operated with his sister Patty. A journey then ensued.

As seen above, another one of the Odd Couple's guest stars was Penny Marshall, the sister of the late Garry Marshall. She was, of course, one half of the iconic BFF duo Laverne & Shirley, which aired for eight seasons from 1976-1983. They'd been estranged for years, and Oscar finally does get some closure after talking with her in the third act, at which point Walter's ashes had been accidentally dropped into a barrel of taffy. Sitcoms are wild, y'all.

And there were a bunch of other excellent cameos from others that came between Ron Howard and Penny Marshall's episode-capping spots. Oscar (and a road trip-ready Felix) end up meeting Patty's mother Edna, played by the always fabulous Happy Days matriarch Marion Ross, and sister Vivan, who was portrayed by Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall's co-star on Laverne & Shirley. (No Squiggy or Lenny to be found, sadly.) More Happy Days stars showed up, too, as both Anson "Potsie" Williams and Don "Ralph Malph" Most were former co-workers of Walter's.

Pam Dawber, the female non-alien half of Mork & Mindy, was in the episode as Annette, a bartender who knew Walter. Her presence is doubly touching, as her Mork & Mindy co-star Robin Williams died a little over two years ago.

For more sad feelings, check out the pre-credits tag below.

All in all, The Odd Couple offered a way to honor Garry Marshall - the use of TV cameos - that really couldn't be more fitting. It wasn't necessarily on par with the best episodes of Marshall's best comedies - "pain in my butler" was a noteworthy groaner - but it was worth it to see all these excellent actors back on primetime TV.

The Odd Couple Season 3 airs on CBS on Monday nights. To see what other future and present TV classics are on the way, check out our schedules for both the fall debuts and midseason premieres.

Television nowadays is filled with reboots and revivals. One of the newer shows that successfully made an old premise new again is The Odd Couple, which is currently in its third season on CBS. The sitcom never would have existed if not for late creator Garry Marshall adapting Neil Simon's play back in the 1970s, and an upcoming episode will give nods back to the life and career of the man responsible for a lot of laughs. In honor of Marshall, stars from Happy Days and other classic shows will guest star on The Odd Couple this season.

Marion Ross, Ron Howard, Anson Williams, and Don Williams will be among the most recognizable guest stars thanks to their roles on Happy Days. In addition to crafting the original Odd Couple's TV iteration and Happy Days, Garry Marshall created Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy, and the upcoming episode will also feature Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall of Laverne & Shirley, with Pam Dawber representing Mork & Mindy.

The tribute episode will feature Oscar reaching out to significant figures of his life while he is on a mission to honor his father's final wish, which was to spread his ashes on the grounds of the candy factory that he once owned. TVLine reports that the episode will air on Monday, November 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

Garry Marshall passed away in July due to complications of pneumonia following a stroke, leaving behind a legacy of laughs spanning decades. Since Marshall worked as an executive consultant for the new Odd Couple in addition to all his other contributions to TV comedy, it's fitting that he gets a unique primetime tribute from the cast and crew. Marshall himself appeared in front of the camera at one point during the reboot, playing the father of slob extraordinaire Oscar. He was a fun addition to the cast as he bounced off of Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, and it's a shame that we'll never get to see more of the boys interacting with Oscar's dad.

All in all, the November 7 episode sounds like it will have a lot going on. It should be interesting to see if the classic sitcom stars play themselves on The Odd Couple or if they will be playing other characters. Either way, it should worth watching. Be sure to tune in to catch stars from Garry Marshall's biggest hits as they gather on the small screen to honor the man whose creativity brought them together.

American comedy in the last couple of decades owes a significant debt to Garry Marshall. As a writer, an actor, a show runner, and a director, the man built a legacy of laughter, and even up until this spring, he was as active as ever. It saddens us to report that as of this afternoon, Garry Marshall has passed away, at the age of 81.

The official cause of death, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was due to complications from pneumonia, after previously suffering a stroke. Garry Marshall is survived by his wife, Barbara, as well as his daughter, six grandchildren, and his sister, director Penny Marshall. While his passing is unfortunately one of many sudden passings that have occurred this year, his legacy will remain as bright and laugh filled as it always has been. Born in 1934, Marshall grew up in The Bronx and eventually went to Northwestern University, which started off his career in writing via a regular sports column.

However, it wasn't until Garry Marshall's career began in the field of television writing, that everything began to fall into place. Among his first gigs were duties as a joke writer on such programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Tonight Show with Jack Paar. Of course, writing soon lead to producing, as Marshall went on to create such legendary hits as The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork and Mindy. It was through those shows that the careers of such comedic talents as Henry Winkler and Robin Williams would find their jump start, with the already famous Ron Howard continuing to nurture his own career through his work with Marshall and his team. With a lot of success under his belt, Garry Marshall still had two more frontiers to cross: acting and film directing.

While Garry Marshall had some early roles in films like Goldfinger and Lost In America, his acting career really picked up in the 1990s. Among his most recognizable roles are Stan Lansing, the head of the network that Murphy Brown and company worked for, as well as "The Devil" in Hocus Pocus, and most recently Abe, a Catfish director on Bojack Horseman. However, his acting career only complimented the part of his career that made up the bulk of his resume, his three plus decades as a film director.

Starting with 1982's Young Doctors In Love, Marshall evolved through the course of decades to deliver iconic hits such as The Heartbreak Kid, Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, and most recently Valentine's Day. For the most part, romantic comedies were Garry Marshall's bread and butter, which not only helped refine the genre into what we recognize it as today, but also delivered stars such as Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway into the superstar careers they recognized for today. Though besides his lighter fare, Marshall was also known for the comedy / drama, Beaches, which also spawned the hit single "Wind Beneath My Wings," sung by one of the film's stars, Bette Midler.

If there's one thing Garry Marshall will be remembered for, it's laughter. Through his legendary career, he's never ceased to make an audience laugh, though sometimes he has been able to make them cry or fall in love. It's his gift that we remember today, as well as his equally sparkling personality. We send our deepest condolences to the Marshall family in this time of need, and would like them to know that we will forever cherish the joy he brought us, his audience.

Garry Marshall is a director known for making feel good movies and sweet romantic comedies. While this weekend’s Mother’s Day, his third ensemble cast film based around a holiday, looks, from all outward appearances to be yet another in this series, it appears that not every character in this one is quite so loving and friendly. The original script for the film, apparently, required character actresses Margo Martindale to use the slur "towelhead," but she refused to do so.

Margo Martindale is frequently cast in movies and TV, and due to her strong Texas accent, the southerness of her character is often a key part of their identity. Such is the case in this weekend’s Mother’s Day where she plays the mother to characters played by Kate Hudson and Sarah Chalke. Mom and dad surprise their kids with a visit, only to discover their daughters have been keeping secrets from them. One is married to an Indian man, and the other is married to a woman. The reason the kids didn’t tell their parents the truth is because their parents are a couple of stereotypical southern, homophobic racists. In fact, the script called for both parents to refer to their new son-in-law, as a "towelhead" but according to the Huffington Post, Martindale decided the word only needed to be said once, so she let her on-screen husband, Robert Pine, be the one to say it.

One of the more difficult parts of acting has to be when you’re supposed to do or say something that you would have a real problem doing normally. Playing a racist character has to be somewhat strange for most people, especially when you’re using some terrible language. Just saying words like that feels wrong, even if you’re playing a character. Margo Martindale admits that to some extent the southern stereotype her character represents is "absolutely true" though she also knows plenty of people from Texas that her character would not represent. In the end, it probably was no great loss to the script to remove one slur. The word still gets used, which drives home the information necessary about the character that uses it, and we’re sure Martindale’s character Flo doesn’t need to use the word herself to get properly painted with the same brush.

Still, it is a Garry Marshall movie, so we assume that by the end of Mother’s Day horizons are broadened and everybody lives happily ever after. Everybody is just so damn adorable.

While there are plenty of times that actors have to do the uncomfortable thing to tell the story properly, it probably wasn’t too necessary in this case. One less slur in the world isn’t a bad thing.

If you’ve been paying attention to the world of TV and movies one thing will be clear: we’re living in a world of reboots and long-awaited sequels. Nostalgia has been ruling the world of entertainment for a while now, with 2016 being the year unexpected reboots are winning the day. With Independence Day: Resurgence and Fuller House bringing the 90’s back to the forefront of entertainment, more production companies are bringing back beloved pieces of TV and movies. Disney seems to understand this trend, and they have apparently been in talks regarding a new sequel to 2001’s The Princess Diaries.

While making an appearance on Larry King Now, The Princess Diaries director Garry Marshall opens up regarding the development of the third film in the series:

Well, they talk about it. Disney always likes to announce things, so they tell Garry, ‘Shut up, we’ll announce it. [Anne Hathaway] came to my office, she was quite pregnant…she puts her computer on the table, pushes three buttons, there’s Julie Andrews on Skype in Long Island. And we have a meeting.

This certainly seems promising. Not only is a new Princess Diaries film being discussed, but the original stars are involved in the conversation.

We’d previously reported that rumors were floating around regarding a Princess Diaries 3, but things are a bit more concrete now that director Garry Marshall has addressed the rumors. His statement also makes it seem like he perhaps wasn't supposed to tell Larry King that it’s being developed. Not that I’m complaining.

It’s a bit surprising that Anne Hathaway would step back into the clumsy shoes of Mia Thermopolis. The Academy Award winner made her big screen debut in The Princess Diaries, and has since had quite the impressive acting career. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, winning one for her performance as Fantine in Les Miserables.

Then again, Anne Hathaway does owe her career to Disney. In addition to the first Princess Diaries movie, the beginning of her career also included Disney films The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Ella Enchanted. Although she can surely take part in another Oscar season triumph, she may feel a bit of loyalty to the franchise that gave her her big break.

Perhaps most exciting is the prospect of seeing Julie Andrews return to the big screen. Andrews does most of her film work as a voice actress. In fact, the last time she was physically on a big screen was alongside The Rock in 2010’s Tooth Fairy.

Check out Garry Marshall’s Princess Diaries statement on Larry King Now below.

I’d be thrilled to see another Princess Diaries movie hit theaters sometime soon. There’s definitely money to be made by capitalizing on the nostalgia factor, and bringing back the original cast for a final film. Of course, only time will tell if the plan actually comes to fruition. Garry Marshall is getting a bit long in the tooth, and he may not want to be in the directing game forever.

We’ll continue to update you as more information becomes public.

It seems that Garry Marshall is ready to continue what's probably best described at this point as his "Holiday Trilogy." It began in 2010 with the star-studded ensemble comedy Valentine's Day; continued with 2011's star-studded ensemble comedy New Year's Eve; and now we have word about Mother's Day - a brand new star-studded ensemble comedy that has already begun putting pieces of its cast together.

So who are the folks that will be populating this brand new project? Deadline has released the info about the project, and you can find our rundown on the cast so far below:

First up we have Julia Roberts, who is not only a veteran star of Garry Marshall movies, but even had an earlier role in the Holiday Trilogy. The actress and director previously found huge success together working on both 1990's Pretty Woman, and 1999's Runaway Bride (both co-starring Richard Gere), and they most recently worked together on Valentine's Day. Just to make things more interesting, there's a part of me that kind of hopes she winds up playing the same character as she did in that film, Captain Kate Hazeltine.

Another one of the mothers who will be celebrating the titular holiday in the movie will be Jennifer Aniston. Unlike Roberts, this will be the first time that the actress has had the opportunity to work with the director, so there's really no predicting what her part will entail in Mother's Day. Aniston's last big movie was the comedy sequel Horrible Bosses 2, but late last year she earned a bit of Oscar buzz for her role in the drama Cake.

The third and final actress to be announced as the first members of the Mother's Day cast is Kate Hudson, who will apparently be playing another mom working through her own personal drama simultaneously as the other characters. This will be the first movie that Hudson has made with Garry Marshall since Raising Helen, which came out back in 2004.

Lastly we have the only man to be a part of the Mother's Day ensemble, as Jason Sudeikis will make the film has his first collaboration with the director. It will be interesting to see if he winds up getting paired with Jennifer Aniston's story, given that the two of them have already worked together in three movies now: both of the Horrible Bosses and 2013's We're The Millers.

Screenwriters Anya Kochoff-Romano and Lily Hollander have penned the script, and the movie seems to be moving fast. Production is scheduled to start in August, which means that it could be in theaters for 2016's Mother's Day. The bad news for the movie is that's the same weekend that Marvel Studios is planning to release the massive blockbuster Captain America: Civil War. It will be interesting to see how things work out.

In the early 1970s, director and TV creator Garry Marshall was putting together a brand new comedy about an All-American family living in the 1950s. The show, Happy Days, ended up airing for 11 seasons and become one of the more famous shows in television history. Its name, its premise and its jokes were all timely, but Happy Days was almost never Happy Days. In fact, Garry Marshall recently revealed that he wanted to call the series by the bizarre title COOL. That’s all caps, mind you.

Marshall was recently reminiscing about Happy Days in an interview with The Guardian when he revealed that COOL ended up getting vetoed by ABC. Here’s why:

Happy Days is probably best known for The Fonz, a cool cat from the wrong side of the railroad tracks who finds love and acceptance with the Cunningham family. Although, Fonzie wasn’t part of the original concept for Happy Days, his character was cool enough that I suppose the title would somewhat have been justified once The Fonz was added in. It’s pretty hilarious, though, that TV viewers didn’t dig it, and ultimately, the Happy Days title has become iconic—especially with the help of the theme song that was written for the series.

Originally, Garry Marshall told The Guardian that he was also initially asked to put together a show about flappers in the 1920s. He was fine with making a period drama, but flappers weren’t exactly his forte. Instead, he figured out a way to make a nostalgic series that worked for the network and worked for his own creative sensibilities.

Focus groups are often discussed in extremely negative terms, but in this case, one seems to have produced a very positive result. Happy Days eventually grew into one of TV's most loveable shows that was on for a decade, but it's unclear whether anyone would have even tuned in to give Cool a try.

CBS is reviving the classic sitcom/movie/play The Odd Couple for modern viewers, and while it basically looks like the same set-up as the 1970s series, there are a few key differences. I’m not talking about the actors or their character descriptions, either; I’m talking about there being women in the writer’s room, as that was apparently a major no-no back when ABC first brought The Odd Couple to the small screen. Not such “odd” behavior for the time, sadly.

Appearing at this year’s Television Critics Association winter press event, legendary producer and director Garry Marshall shared with audiences just how determined ABC was to keep female writers out of The Odd Couple back then.

Maybe they just had a problem with people named Susan? Seriously, though, that’s an egregiously damning admission from Marshall, even though it’s no secret that females in Hollywood have always had a rough time gaining headway. Harris ended up going on to create Soap, Benson, Golden Girls and Empty Nest, among other series, so it’s crazy to think about how varied the TV landscape would be had these three creative forces actually been hired on for The Odd Couple instead of going on to produce their signature series. (Just about all of which are better than The Odd Couple, in my opinion.)

Thankfully, Marshall says that’s all different now with CBS’ updated version, starring Friends’ Matthew Perry as Oscar Madison and Reno 911’s Thomas Lennon as Felix Unger. Marshall says there are “three great female writers” on staff there, and that they bring a better balance to the show, which is able to approach emotions and feelings far greater than the 1970s iteration.

This new Odd Couple is also able to handle talking about two adult heterosexual men living together without worrying about people thinking they’re gay. While the show’s characters will be able to broach the topic of sexuality here, that definitely wasn’t always the case. Here’s how Marshall explained that, according to THR.

So, they could have women around as objects of gay-deflecting sexual attraction, but not as the people writing those scenes? Tsk tsk tsk.

CBS will pair both male and female viewers with The Odd Couple when it premieres on Thursday, February 19.

Garry Marshall is either a creative genius or lazy. At this stage of the game, I honestly can’t tell.

New Year’s Eve -- Marshall’s second Love Boat meets Cannonball Run celebrity mashup loosely structured around an annual holiday -- hits theaters Friday, and even casual viewers recognize it as Valentine’s Day in a different city (New York in place of L.A.) with some new faces, some recycled stars, and some actors we never thought we’d see on screen again. (Hello, Cary Elwes!)

So it’s a lazy retread, right? Except, Valentine’s Day was a surprise hit, earning $110.4 million, so maybe Marshall’s on to something. We’ll know more when Eve reports its box-office take, answering whether star-studded lightning can strike the same place twice.

? And if it does, count on Marshall rustling up a fresh batch of bright, shiny stars and moving on to the next major holiday. Halloween has been done (thank you, John Carpenter). Thanksgiving seems too obvious a choice.

How about St. Patrick’s Day?

Hoping to stay ahead of Marshall’s holiday curve, I’m put together a pitch. Some suggestions, from a bona fide Irishman, in case Marshall wants to sprinkle “céad míle fáilte” across his next ensemble comedy. Is this a ringing endorsement for yet another holiday-themed effort by the Pretty Woman director? Not exactly. But if it has to happen, here’s what I’d love to see for St. Patty’s Day.

?

Locations

Los Angeles and New York are crucial to the successes of Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, respectively. And there’s only one perfect city to serve as the backdrop for a star-studded St. Patrick’s Day celebration. OK, maybe two.

Chicago and Dublin.

So I say, “Use them both!” Marshall hasn’t ventured outside of his chosen locale with one of these ensemble comedies yet. Maybe now’s the time. I even have an idea as to how he could do it.

Plot

You have a main protagonist, a Chicago fill-in-the-blank (ad executive, financial analyst, lawyer or some other generic job Hollywood loves squeezing into these formulaic storylines). He has a small group of colorful, close-knit friends. Every year, they get wasted and party around Chicago’s dyed-green river. But the routine’s getting old. This year, they’re shaking it up. This year, they’re taking the party to Ireland.

You start the movie in the Windy City, filming at recognizable landmarks to establish your setting. You factor in a “wacky” airport/airplane sequence, which allows you to make “cutting edge” jokes about the TSA and testy flight attendants (an Alec Baldwin cameo as a disgruntled game-playing passenger would be perfect right here), as well as introduce new characters. Then you conclude the film in Dublin, where a cast of hundreds can join the revelry and engage in tasteless jokes about potato famines, broke economies, and Bono’s massive ego.

We’re almost there. I can see the studio’s Kelly-green greenlight (appropriate) at the end of the tunnel. Now all we need are hordes of Irish actors, and we’ll be kissing the box office Blarney Stone of success.

So, who do we cast?

Cast

Colin Farrell.

That’s a no-brainer. Make him the “Ashton Kutcher” of this new ensemble piece, the driving force and the drunken life of the party. Make room for Farrell’s In Bruges co-star (and Dublin native) Brendan Gleeson once the action shifts to Ireland. You know you want to see this imaginary movie now.

But Farrell needs friends. And since Marshall has a penchant for luring A-list talent, I’m betting he can get Matt Damon to play Farrell’s wing man. Chris Evans, also Irish, could and should tag along for the ride. And this entourage needs a dash on unpredictability. Get me Robert Downey Jr.’s agent on the line.

Now, leading ladies. This is easier than it sounds. Anne Hathaway’s Irish, and she has a connection to Marshall from their Princess Diaries days. Done and done. I’m picturing Hathaway as a maid of honor helping her best-friend bride (Zooey Deschanel) prepare for an overseas wedding. Needless to say, Deschanel’s fiancée (Dane Cook) is a real ass, and only Farrell can steal her away.

I see, now, why Marshall and screenwriter Katherine Fugate keep coming back to this formula. This crap practically writes itself.

Anyway, mix in Heather Graham as a flight attendant, Conan O’Brien as the minister conducting the wedding ceremony, Denis Leary as a pub owner, the Baldwin brothers as his loyal patrons, Diane Keaton as the mother of the bride, and George Clooney as Dublin’s mayor, and you have a hit on your hands. Oh, and Bono – heck, all of U2 – needs to show up and perform. That’s infinitely cooler than the Jon Bon Jovi-Lea Michele duet we get in New Year’s Eve.

You’re welcome, Mr. Marshall. I’ll see you at the theaters on March 17, 2013. You bring the Guinness.

(Bachelor party image via Shutterstock. St. Patrick's Day image via Liviu Toader / Shutterstock.com)

UPDATE! Looks like this was just a rumor. Muniz posted on his Twitter account "If I'm in the upcoming "New Year's Eve" movie, nobody told me! I'm not sure where news outlets got that info... But I know nothing about it!"

Original story follows:

Growing older can be tough on child actors-- success stories like Dakota Fanning and Jodie Foster are the outliers, leaving dozens and dozens of kids behind them to fade into obscurity. Stuck somewhere in-between success and failure is Frankie Muniz, the Malcolm in the Middle and Agent Cody Banks star who hasn't been arrested for cocaine possession or made a ton of awful direct-to-DVD movies, but isn't nearly as successful as he was before he hit puberty. He's definitely not bankable enough to headline his own major film right now, but joining an ensemble alongside a bunch of other famous names isn't a bad consolation prize.

So now we have Muniz signing on alongside the massive, monstrous cast of New Year's Eve, the ensemble romantic comedy that will be director Garry Marshall's follow-up to the horrifyingly successful Valentine's Day. What's Playing doesn't have information on what role he'll play, but I'm betting on some kind of romance complicated by the impending holiday-- because that's what the entire damn movie is going to be about. Honestly I'm kind of curious to even see what Muniz looks like these days-- the last time I saw him onscreen was as Buddy Holly in 2007's Walk Hard-- but not curious enough to want to see this. Unfortunately given my role here at Cinema Blend, I'll be seeing it anyway, so check back in December for my full report.

Even though New Year's Eve is kind of a spiritual sequel to the mega-rom-com Valentine's Day, my understanding was that they were trying to assemble an all-new cast of celebrities and not have any of the shorelines from the previous film overlap. And yet they've already cast Ashton Kutcher, who was the closest thing the first movie had to a central star, and now THR reports that Jessica Biel, who played a workaholic wooed by Jamie Foxx the first time around, has signed on as well.

In a casting movie that would totally destroy the world of the two films if anyone actually cared, Biel seems to be playing a totally different character this time, a pregnant woman aiming to be the first person in New York to give birth in the new year. In addition they're bringing on Modern Family's Sofia Vergara, a woman so funny her participation is almost enough to make me actually want to add this thing. Other names that have cropped up in the casting process include Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, Lea Michele and Abigail Breslin, with Garry Marshall back to steer the whole thing through the streets of Manhattan like a candy-colored Thanksgiving Day float. The movie hits theaters next holiday season, of course.

The fact that I actually enjoyed Valentine’s Day is coming back to haunt me. I certainly don’t think it’s a well made film, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t excellent holiday fare. There was just one thing in Valentine’s Day that was so awful I couldn’t get past it: Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner. I don’t care if you think it’s the best film of the year, you have to recognize that those were two of the poorest performances in recent history. Even worse, there was absolutely no point to their portion of the film.

Now it seems as though my worst nightmare could be coming true. According to E! Online, the Valentine’s Day sequel, New Year’s Eve, is in the works and the plan is to recast the entire roster – except Swift. One of their “sneakiest sources” who they claim has a firm had on the film said, "They were thinking about having Taylor Swift be in college at NYU." The source added, "They were throwing her name out there a while back." That person also turned down the idea that Lautner would return as well saying, "They only mentioned Taylor Swift, and she's not even in right now." The keyword in those quotes is “were.” Does that mean Swift returning was a thing of the past and isn’t happening anymore? I hope so.

And I’d like to bet it actually is just an old idea too. Just a couple of weeks ago Ashton Kutcher mentioned he might return for New Year’s Eve, which would completely contradict some of E! Online’s news. Kutcher said he’s been asked to return, but he won’t make a decision until he reads the script. I’m going to let out a major sigh of relief and assume that this whole Taylor Swift thing was just an old idea that’s now history.

Though Garry Marshall is nearly 76 years old, he's still hip enough with the kids to recognize a phenomenon when he sees it-- after all, he managed to shoehorn Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner into Valentine's Day, despite the fact that they had nothing to do with the rest of the story and had broken up by the time the movie came out. As he gears up for a sequel, of sorts, to that movie, New Year's Eve, he's apparently already getting pressured to include the next big teen sensation.

"Already, they're mentioning Justin Bieber," he told MTV. "I have no idea who that is, but I'm sure we'll meet." Marshall said he was courting an all-new celebrity cast for this one, and that none of the actors from Valentine's Day would be part of this one except Hector Elizondo, who Marshall says "has to be in all my movies." You'd think he would have run out of celebrities after Valentine's Day, but Marshall brags that he's pretty well connected-- he's openly hoping that Reese Witherspoon and Halle Berry will jump on board.

As for Bieber, who knows what role he'll play-- Valentine's Day proved that Marshall can cram endless people into plotlines that don't relate, and give screen time to even the least talented of performers (sorry, Taylor Swift). New Year's Eve is set for a December 9, 2011 release, so Marshall can only hope that Bieber isn't totally over by then.

UPDATE! Jamie Foxx's reps tell The Wrap that he's not writing Laverne & Shirley.

TV Guide says Garry Marshall is working on a Laverne & Shirley movie. That Hollywood might be interested in remaking Laverne & Shirley for the big screen isn’t really a surprise. What is a complete and total shock is that, apparently, Jamie Foxx is writing it.

Marshall says of Foxx’s script, “It’s a whole different modern day take on how they came up on the streets during difficult times. Laverne would be this very tough girl with a big ‘L’ tattooed on her arm. Jennifer Garner would play Laverne and Jessica Biel would play Shirley.” Shirley was always sort of the straight woman to Laverne’s comedic antics, and I suppose that’s why they’re giving the role to Garner. Of the two actresses, she has the most comedy experience. But if we’re talking tatted up tough girl, doesn’t that sound more like Jessica Biel?

Whoever they play, I like the idea of Garner and Biel stepping into these roles and of course, the only way to do it is to modernize it. But seriously, Jamie Foxx? How did that happen? In what universe does that make any sense? Why is he even interested in it? What’s he doing writing at all? Foxx isn’t known as a screenwriter, he hasn’t really written anything since his old sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show. An idea this crazy, this inexplicable, just has to work… doesn’t it?