Tropic Thunder is an upcoming 2008 action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller and starring Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. as a group of actors filming a Vietnam War movie when their fed-up director and writer decide to dump them in the middle of a real war. It is due for release on August 15, 2008.

Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying. Ben Stiller says “Tropic Thunder” is a “a comedy about five actors who go on location and find themselves relying on their boot camp experiences when they get stuck in a real war-like situation.” Black will play Jeff “Fats” Portnoy, an overweight gross-out comedian, who’s forced to kick his drug addiction while filming on location in the jungle.

Downey Jr. will play Kirk Lazarus, the greatest actor of his generation and a four-time Oscar winner. Baruchel will play Kevin Sandusky, an unknown actor on the set and Stiller plays Speedman.

 A group of self-absorbed actors set out to make the most expensive war film. But after ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

Cast:

  • Ben Stiller as Tug Speedman, an action movie star.
  • Jack Black as Jeff “Fats” Portnoy, a comedian turned drug addict well known for playing multiple parts in films.
  • Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian Academy Award winning method actor who applies blackface to play Sgt. Osiris.
  • Brandon T. Jackson as Alpa Chino, a hip hop artist turned actor.
  • Jay Baruchel as Kevin Sandusky, a young, unknown up-and-coming actor.
  • Danny R. McBride as Cody, the special effects coordinator of the film.
  • Steve Coogan as Damian, the director of the film.
  • Bill Hader as Rob Slolom
  • Nick Nolte as the film’s writer.

Cameos:

Robert Downey, Jr.’s role was originally written for a black actor, but was re-cast and re-written for Downey (thus calling for the blackface part of the plotline).

Downey acknowledged the potential controversy over the role, but “At the end of the day, it’s always about how well you commit to the character,” he said. “If I didn’t feel it was morally sound, or that it would be easily misinterpreted that I’m just C. Thomas Howell [in Soul Man], I would’ve stayed home.” Test screenings for African-American viewers have had positive responses, but some have expressed outrage.

Owen Wilson was to have Matthew McConaughey’s role in the film, but dropped out after his alleged suicide attempt in August 2007 (His footage shot will be used as a cameo). He was later replaced by McConaughey. In November 2007, Tom Cruise’s attorneys threatened a lawsuit if photos showing Cruise bald, bearded and wearing a fat suit were published.

Photo agency INF responded with a statement: “While these pictures were taken without breaking any criminal or civil laws, we’ve decided to pull them from circulation effective immediately.” Because the film is not part of his production company United Artists, Cruise does not want his participation in the film to be publicized.

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