It’s a little over a year since we first got wind of a planned comedy reunion for The Other Guys co-stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in what was then called Turkey Bowl. The film has been through a title change since – it’s now named **Three Mississippi **– and today, Vulture brings news that Wahlberg is now likely out and Adam Sandler is in talks to take his place.
Written by 30 Rock veteran Robert Carlock and former Friends man Scott Silveri, Three Mississippi revolves around the rivalry between two families who have a longstanding, annual game of American football every Thanksgiving. Alec Baldwin signed on to play Wahlberg’s domineering father, but now that plan could be up in the air.
Wahlberg’s schedule now looks like it’ll be filled with Peter Berg’s Navy SEAL pic Lone Survivor, which lost its funding from Universal and had to get financing from elsewhere on the condition that Wahlberg makes it his next movie. With Ferrell already deep in writing the Anchorman sequel alongside Adam McKay (who despite having helped devise the movie, dropped out of directing Mississippi so he could focus on Ron Burgundy and his news team), the plan to shoot this summer means a new rival was needed. Enter Sandler.
He’s likely been tempted by a) the thought of co-starring with fellow SNL veteran Ferrell and b) the presence of** Sex Drive** director Sean Anders, who he just worked with on That’s My Boy.
So while no deals have been signed yet, it could well be Sandler versus Ferrell on what sounds like a cross between Friday Night Lights and Talladega Nights but with added Sandler. So… Happy Friday Night Talladega Nights Gilmore?