John, Maya for Eggers

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph have signed on to star in the upcoming Sam Mendes comedy for Focus Features. The film is notable for being the first original screenplay written by noted author Dave Eggers (who co-wrote with his wife Vendela Vida). Now a Sam Mendes/Dave Eggers comedy sounds just about as odd a notion as I ever thought I’d come across but here we are. Krasinski and Rudolph will star as a young couple who travel the country in search of the perfect home to start a family. Cheryl Hines, the long-suffering wife of Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has also signed on to co-star in an unspecified role (perhaps a realtor?). Krasinski is proving he’s more than just the mop-haired Jim Halpert from NBC’s “The Office” while Rudolph is showing signs of a solid career after leaving “Saturday Night Live.” Krasinski has LEATHERHEADS with George Clooney and Renee Zellweger on the way in April. Mendes recently wrapped production on REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, the drama that reteams TITANIC stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Eggers meanwhile may see his script for WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE tossed if Warner Bros. execs continue to be unhappy with the results. Filming on the untitled comedy is expected to begin next month in Connecticut.