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Cameron Diaz is set to star in Bad Teacher, a script by Office writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky that made the 2008 black list, set to be directed by Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard).

Story centers on a foulmouthed, gold-digging middle-school teacher who, after getting dumped by her boyfriend, competes with a colleague for the affections of the school’s model teacher.  Now that the studio has its leading lady, production is set to begin in the spring in Los Angeles. [Variety]

I actually read the script for this and it was really funny.  The lead is kind of a female version of Kenny Powers, or Bad Santa — simple concept, funny lines.  It’s disappointing the studio went with Cameron Diaz for this.  Not because I have strong feelings against her, it’s just that this kind of movie needs a talented comedic actress, not an established star trying to reinvent herself.  It’s this old-fart studio mentality that a comedy needs a marquee actor to carry it, so they just pick a famous person instead of finding someone that fits who’s, you know, funny.  Comedy doesn’t rely on stars to sell it, it relies on jokes.  And it’s that much better if it’s someone new — see: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, or Zach Galifianakis — rather than someone who’s already burned us a few times.   You put Cameron Diaz in this movie and for all the upside of it raising its profile, there’s twice the downside when people lump it in with What Happens in Vegas.  And no one wants another What Happens in Vegas.  No one except… you guessed it, Danny Masterson.

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