Chris Tucker Joining David O. Russell's 'Silver Linings Playbook' Cast

Source: THR, Variety

by Alex Billington

First it was Eddie Murphy (confirmed for the Oscars), now it's Chris Tucker trying to make a comeback? THR is reporting that Tucker, who last appeared in Rush Hour 3 in 2007 and Rush Hour 2 before that and nothing else, is in talks for a role in The Silver Linings Playbook, an adaptation of Matthew Quick's novel. The project already has an impressive cast, lead by Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and even Robert De Niro, under the writing/direction of David O. Russell (of Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees, The Fighter), but Tucker should be an interesting addition as well. He's also considering another big screen role.

In addition to this news, Variety adds that Tucker, finally returning from his "hiatus", is considering another role in Fox's project Neighborhood Watch, a comedy which already has Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill set to star for director Akiva Schaffer (Hot Rod, "SNL"). In that film, Tucker would be playing a character named Jamarcus, who is recently divorced, and is likely one of the neighborhood fathers who create a Neighborhood Watch group that stumbles upon a plot to "destroy the world." I'm looking forward to this movie anyway, but I'd rather see Tucker in something more unique, like The Silver Linings Playbook.

Getting back to Silver Linings Playbook, the film stars Bradley Cooper as former high school teacher Pat Peoples who's institutionalized for depression then released into the care of his mother. He tries to win back his ex-wife but gets involved with an eccentric neighbor with problems of her own. Jennifer Lawrence is set to play the neighbor, with De Niro playing Cooper's father. Tucker will play Cooper's "spirited friend who lives in a mental hospital," but escapes often to hang out with him. Harvey Weinstein is producing the film at The Weinstein Company.