Adding to its collection of Kristens, the Melissa McCarthy-starring Michelle Darnell has now landed Saturday Night Live’s Cecily Strong as part of its supporting cast, which also includes the aforementioned Kristens (Bell and Schaal), Kathy Bates, Peter Dinklage, and Bridesmaids writer Annie Mumolo. The movie follows a titan of industry (McCarthy) who hopes to rebrand herself as America’s sweetheart after getting out of prison for insider trading. McCarthy created the character and wrote the script with her husband Ben Falcone, who is set to direct.
McCarthy is still busy busting the hopes and dreams of people (i.e., dudes) who care way too much about the “integrity” of the Ghostbusters franchise, so little is known about Michelle Darnell other than its increasingly ever-growing all star cast and its basic premise. But even if the script is mediocre, it’s hard to imagine all these funny ladies—plus The Dinkels—won’t elevate it.
Strong left the Weekend Update desk at SNL this season, but she has been keeping very busy with work outside of Studio 8H. The latest casting news comes on the heels of Strong’s White House Correspondents Dinner hosting gig/roast of Washington’s elite. She’s also in the upcoming Bryan Buckley-directed The Bronze and is currently filming The Meddler, starring opposite Rose Byrne, Susan Sarandon, and J.K. Simmons.