Sean Penn to play Larry in ‘Three Stooges’ film

March 29, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — Sean Penn is going slapstick.

The studio MGM says the double Oscar winner has signed on to play Larry in the Farrelly brothers’ big-screen update of “The Three Stooges.”

Jim Carrey was “in negotiations” for the role of Curly, said MGM spokesman Grey Munford. The studio first featured the stooges in a series of shorts and features beginning in 1933.

Munford would not confirm reports that Benicio Del Toro will play Moe.

He said filming begins this fall on the comedy, which is expected to be released in 2010.

The casting of a serious actor such as Penn in the assuredly goofy comedy isn’t such a stretch: The actor launched his storied career as goofball Jeff Spicoli in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

Oscars date changes

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Oscars will be presented a little later in 2010.

Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, says the 82nd Annual Academy Awards will air live March 7 on ABC television from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

This year’s telecast aired Feb. 22. The sleeper hit “Slumdog Millionaire” won best picture, Sean Penn won best actor and Kate Winslet scored the trophy for best actress.

Rushdie, Krugman featured at PEN festival

NEW YORK — Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman will be among the authors featured at this spring’s PEN World Voices Festival, the writers organization announced.

Now in its fifth year, the PEN festival will include readings, discussions and performances throughout New York City from April 27 to May 3, with participants expected from more than 40 countries.

Other writers expected include Edwidge Danticat, Michael Ondaatje, Colm Toibin and David Grossman, while Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Parker Posey will perform at a “PEN Cabaret.”

Because of the economic crisis, the festival is slightly smaller than last year’s gathering, with the number of authors dropping from around 180 to about 160 and the number of events trimmed from 81 to 76.

“It’s a huge financial undertaking and we need to be fiscally responsible,” says festival director Caro Llewellyn. “The economy makes it all the more extraordinary that we’re doing this. Publishing imprints are shutting down and we’re still going ahead. It’s still a really big celebration.”

Mamet’s new play

NEW YORK — David Mamet will be doing double duty with his new Broadway-bound play “Race.”

Not only has Mamet written it, he will direct its world premiere, too.

Producer Jeffrey Richards said earlier this month that “Race” will go into rehearsal Oct. 26, with the first preview set for Nov. 21 and an opening scheduled for Dec. 10. Richards declined to talk about “Race” but said, “The title is self-explanatory.”

No casting, design team or theater have been announced.

Mamet has directed other world premieres of his plays including “Oleanna,” “The Cryptogram,” “Boston Marriage” and “Faustus.”

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Eric Idle is 66. Composer Vangelis (“Chariots of Fire”) is 66. Singer Perry Farrell of Porno for Pyros and Jane’s Addiction is 50. Comedian Amy Sedaris is 48. Model Elle Macpherson is 46. Singer-harmonica player John Popper of Blues Traveler is 42. Actress Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) is 41. Country singer Regina Leigh of Regina Regina is 41. Country singer Brady Seals is 40. Singer Kelly Sweet is 21.