Kingsley, Peck light up drugs comedy

By Tatiana Siegel

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Sir Ben Kingsley and Nickelodeon star Josh Peck are taking a crack at the indie comedy "The Wackness."

Also on board are Famke Janssen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Olivia Thirlby and rapper Method Man

Set in New York in summer 1994, the story revolves around a troubled teenage drug dealer (Peck) who trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist (Kingsley) intent on living his life to the fullest. The two form an unlikely friendship, but things get complicated when the kid falls for the doctor's daughter (Olivia Thirlby).

The film is shooting in New York. Jonathan Levine is directing the Occupant Films project from his own script. He made his directing debut with "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane," a Toronto Film Festival hit, which will open early next year.

Kingsley was recently in theaters with the mob comedy "You Kill Me." Peck is half of Nickelodeon's tween sensation "Drake and Josh." Thirlby appeared in "United 93."

Janssen is best known for her role as Jean Grey in the "X-Men" film franchise. Olsen, one-half of the famed twins, most recently starred in "New York Minute." Method Mad's film credits include "Garden State" and "Gone in 60 Seconds."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter