Thus was announced this morning by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and execs from Columbia Pictures. No title has been revealed (IMDB lists only “Untitled James L. Brooks Project“), but with Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Paul Rudd inked and Brooks directing, sure sounds like a romcom!

Oh yeah, and there will be summer jobs for kids!

From the press release:

The production will bring several qualified DC students on board in conjunction with the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and the Centralized College Internship Program, providing on-the-job training in film industry functions such as production, locations, art, and accounting.

…The film, slated to spend 14 weeks in pre-production, principal photography, and post-production in the District this summer, will hire over 100 local crew and several hundred local extras. This unique partnership between the District and Columbia Pictures is one of many initiatives aimed at expanding the city’s base of qualified film professionals to serve the growing film industry in Washington, DC.

…The film is written and directed by James L. Brooks and produced by Brooks, Paula Weinstein, Laurence Mark and Julie Ansell. Brooks added, “I had the privilege of filming Broadcast News in the DC area, and no matter how long or hard the day was, on my drive home, I could always look forward to the beauty of the city. It is, to me, the great city of the world. I couldn’t be more excited to be able to work here once more. I am especially grateful to the Mayor and his Film Commission for doing the heavy lifting in allowing us to come.”

UPDATE, 1:10 P.M.: Some more (unreliable) info from the IMDB comments: “the movie is called, “How Do You Know?” and the quick synopsis is..Rudd will play the part of a businessman vying for Witherspoon’s affections, while Wilson is slated for the role of a professional baseball pitcher out to steal her heart.” Another says “Looks like it will be a baseball movie…Reports today says Owen Wilson was sitting in the Texas Rangers bullpen during their spring training against the Colorado Rockies.”

Just a little. And not because my fellow Americans (and Canadians) think 27 Dresses was 2008’s best comedy.

I was wearily zipping through the DVR’d show last night, stopping to catch only the movie-related awards or whenever something particularly ridiculous seemed to be going on.

(Most amusing were the “shout-outs” that appeared in the corner of the screen while anointed ones were walking to the stage, such as this comment about Reese Witherspoon from one Eve from Philadelphia: “She’s an amazing actor and she’s really smart!”)
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