Apr 10 2009 Voldemort Joins 'Cemetary Junction'

Cemetary Junction (formerly Men at the Pru), Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's film "set in the 1970's about class and love in a small town," has added Ralph Fiennes to its cast. From Gervais's blog:

Started scouting locations today for CEMETERY JUNCTION.

You may have read that we've cast Ralph Fiennes, which is fantastic. I bumped into him at the Toronto Film Festival and told him I had written a part with him in mind. I sent him the script and what do you know. He is such an amazing actor and will bring a real weight to the movie. Can't wait.

Frequent readers of this blog will know that Gervais and Merchant have already earned my unending respect and admiration for creating The Office, a show I love so much I'd give it daily baths in its old age. So, uh, I'll just say that Ralph Fiennes is an amazing actor and will bring a real weight to the movie. And please invite me to an advance screening.

Mar 27 2009 Sony (the Headphone Guys) Joins Gervais & Merchant Film

You're fanatical about The Office (UK) and Extras, right? Let's say you are, because otherwise you aren't going to care about this trivial update about Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's new film:

Sony has boarded Ricky Gervais' "The Men at the Pru."

Pic will be the second U.K. production to come out of the Sony Intl. Motion Picture Production Group, run by Deborah Schindler.

Project is a coming-of-age tale about a group of men working at an insurance company in the 1970s.

Gervais is co-writing, directing and producing with longtime creative partner Stephen Merchant.

Gervais will also have a supporting role in the pic, which is set to go into production later this summer.

Also of minor note, despite Variety referring to the film as The Men at the Pru, Gervais says the title is still up in the air, adding that Cemetery Junction is the current favorite.

It's a really slow news day, if you couldn't tell.

Feb 26 2008 Gervais, Merchant Reunite for 'Men at the Pru'

I'll assume you've all watched the amazing UK The Office and the uneven but satisfying Extras, and, like me, have become ardent fans of creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Thus, you will be excited enough to make slight wheezing sounds when you hear the two are re-teaming for The Men at the Pru, a coming-of-age tale of 20-somethings in the '70s. As Gervais told Radio 1:

They work for the building society and they're having a great time but it's about them coming of age and having to grow up. We went down to the Prudential headquarters and got all this old footage so we're really getting into it.

If this is about a group of 20-somethings, I'm assuming Gervais is out for a lead role, so who do you think they'll get to make us uncomfortably awkward to the point of laughter? Will Prudential have a sad boss convinced of his own comedic abilities?

Gervais, Merchant write 'Men at the Pru' [Digital Spy]