Megan Fox continues to branch out and distance herself from the big-budget blockbusters that put her on the Hollywood map.
The "Transformers" star is set to test her mettle as an actress in "Friends With Kids," an ensemble comedy that will mark the feature directorial debut of acclaimed indie screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt ("Kissing Jessica Stein"), Fox's publicist has confirmed to TheWrap.
The story follows a pair of 30-something best friends who observe the toll that having children has taken on the couples they know and resolve to bypass that stress by having a child and then dating other people.
Westfeldt will star opposite Adam Scott ("Step Brothers"), while her real-life partner Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig will play another couple. A third couple has not been cast.
As for Fox, she'll play a woman who Scott begins to date.
While I have no idea whether he'd be appropriate for a role, I'd love to see Westfeldt re-team with her "Ira & Abby" star Chris Messina on this project, although he is coming off the similarly-themed comedy "Away We Go" and was not part of an August table read that included Hamm's "Mad Men" co-star Rosemarie DeWitt, Noah Emmerich and Rebecca Kreskoff.
Westfeldt will direct from her own script, and she'll also produce with Hamm. Her earlier films have been a delightful breath of fresh air, so I think it's wise of Fox to get involved with her latest effort.
Veteran filmmakers Mike Nichols and Jake Kasdan will exec produce, while Cinetic Media's John Sloss will handle sales.
"Friends With Kids" is scheduled for theatrical release in April.
Fox next stars alongside Mickey Rourke and Bill Murray in Mitch Glazer's "Passion Play," which Image Entertainment plans to release next year.
Westfeldt is best known for starring on ABC's "Notes from the Underbelly." She recently played a journalist on the final season of Fox's "24."
Fox is represented by ICM and her casting in "Friends With Kids" was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
