Daily news dose: Sally Hawkins finds 'Wonderful Afterlife;' Carell in talks to star in 'Dumped'

Here's your dose of daily film news for April 1, 2009:

• Sally Hawkins, Zoe Wanamaker, Jimi Mistry and Mark Addy have signed on to star in Gurinder Chadha's upcoming comedy "It's A Wonderful Afterlife." The plot follows an Indian mother who's ready to engage in anything to marry off her daughter, even serial murder. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to "Dumped," a comedy based on a novel by Andrew Gottlieb. Vic Levin jumped on board to write the screenplay, and Steve Carell is attached to star in the project, which follows a man searching for new meaning in his life after his wife seeks a divorce. (Variety)

• Josh Schwartz will write and direct a new big-screen adaptation of Jay McInerney's 1984 novel "Bright Lights, Big City," which was already turned into a flick with Michael J. Fox. According to Variety, the story follows a magazine writer who uses drugs and alcohol to deal with a failed marriage and writer's block.

• Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arterton and Alexa Davalos are joining Sam Worthington in Louis Leterrier's "Clash of the Titans." Worthington plays Perseus, who embarks on a mission to save a princess (Davalos) and battle Hades, the god of hell. Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay wrote the script. (THR)

Daily news dose: Bateman board 'Up in the Air;' J.J. Abrams talks 'Cloverfield' sequel

Here's your dose of film news for March 2, 2009:

• Jason Bateman is the latest to join George Clooney in Jason Reitman's upcoming "Up in the Air," based on the novel by Walter Kirn. The film follows a counselor who helps large companies fire their executives and spends most of his time flying to collect one million frequent-flyer miles. (Variety)

• At this year's WonderCon, J.J. Abrams briefly talked about a sequel to "Cloverfield." "We're actually working on an idea right now," he said. "We have an idea that we thought was pretty cool that we're playing with, which means there will be something that's connected to 'Cloverfield,' but I hope it happens sooner than later because the idea is pretty sweet." (via ComingSoon)

• Gurinder Chadha is currently developing "It's a Wonderful Afterlife," which she describes as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" meets "Shaun of the Dead," according to Variety. The plot follows a British-Asian mother who's ready to engage in anything to marry off her daughter, even serial murder.

• Paul Giamatti, Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon are ready to star in Alexander Payne's upcoming film "Downsizing," about "a married couple who are low on money and decide they can have a much nicer life retiring as little people." (Variety)