According to Variety, the Universal Pictures has made a deal with Steve Carell (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) to write his own comic vehicle, which is untitled and based on his original idea. They've also bought the Mark Gunn and Brian Gunn pitch Juvenile. Both projects will be produced by Mary Parent and Scott Stuber, along with Carell. Deals come as Carell prepares to star for director Tom Shadyac in Universal's Evan Almighty, a spinoff of the studio's hit Bruce Almighty.

Andy Garcia has signed up to the Joe Carnahan-directed ‘Smokin' Aces’. Garcia will join the star-studded film list of  Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Alicia Keys and Ben Affleck in the action comedy about an illusionist who snitches on the mob and has hitmen after him. Garcia will play the FBI director who tries to keep the cocky entertainer around long enough to testify. Universal and Working Title are producing. Carnahan who last directed the thriller ‘Narc’ was on board to direct ‘Mission Impossible 3 ‘ after Tom Cruise helped produced the hit ‘Narc’. But Carnahan pulled out at the last minute only to be replaced by Lost creator and director J.J. Abrams.