Kevin Smith’s upcoming detective comedy starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan was originally called A Couple of Dicks. It isn’t the edgiest title, but it was a little controversial in light of the flop of Kevin Smith’s last movie, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which some people blamed on difficulties they had advertising it beause of the title (though I would blame it more on the movie being kind of boring and sucky).  Long story short, they had to take the dicks out.  *your mom cries*

The Movie Formerly Known as A COUPLE OF DICKS has finally settled on a (network-policy-dictated) replacement title! While we’ll always have DICKS in our hearts, the title we just now locked makes me smile on a bunch of different levels – including this 1: we can now advertise our movie properly (& ironically). And said marketing begins… on every print of SHERLOCK HOLMES, Christmas Day! [Kevin Smith's Twitter]

The new title is… Cop Out.  Pretty clever in light of the circumstances.  Though if you didn’t know the back story it’d just sound like something that stars Tim Allen and a St. Bernard.  *covers eyes with paws*

[via CHUD, FilmStage]

The first pictures of Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis in A Couple of Dicks, which is directed but not written by Kevin Smith, hit the web yesterday.  I didn’t post them, because I don’t usually get that excited about promo stills, but that’s was before I read this thrilling analysis by FirstShowing.  Now I realize I was wrong.

It really can’t get any better than this! So here’s the crazy setup for the photo. In a scene from Kevin Smith’s new comedy A Couple of Dicks, which is currently shooting in New York, Tracy Morgan, who plays a cop, gets chased down by a pit bull while wearing a cell phone costume while riding a giant tricycle. I can’t believe this photo is real and it’s actually a scene being shot for Kevin Smith’s movie. This is one of those photos you usually see on CollegeHumor.com, not in a movie. Based off of this alone, I’m already sold on the movie! I just love the look on Morgan’s face, like his life depends on how fast he can peddle away.

I’m really excited for this now too!  I think the mushrooms are finally kicking in!  OMG feel this carpet!  I wonder how they make stuff!

_{Smith, in happier times}

Kevin Smith’s next directing project starring Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis apparently won’t be called A Couple of Dicks as originally reported, but rather the extraordinarily banal A Couple of Cops.

The scripting team of Robb and Marc Cullen penned the screenplay, centered on a pair of cops who track down a stolen baseball card, rescue a Mexican beauty and must deal with gangsters and laundered drug money. [Variety via /Film]

WB had originally acquired the script not realizing “dick” was a double entendre.  Once they found out, they took immediate action, first experimenting with more literal titles such as A Couple of Dicks – Not Penises, This Isn’t That Kind of Movie At All.  For his part, Kevin Smith is said to be unhappy with the change. “It’s like there’s a hole in my heart where some dicks used to be,” he reportedly told friends.