Mike White to
direct Year of the Dog

It's dog days ahead for Molly Shannon. The former Saturday Night Live star is in final negotiations to play the lead in the comedy Year of the Dog for Paramount's new specialty division. The film marks the directorial debut of out writer Mike White, whose credits include School of Rock, The Good Girl, Chuck & Buck, Orange County, and Paramount's upcoming Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black. White and Shannon met on the Fox TV series Cracking Up, which Shannon starred in and White created. The story centers on Peggy, a happy-go-lucky secretary who lives alone with her beloved dog, Pencil. But when Pencil unexpectedly dies, Peggy embarks on a journey of transformation. No start date is set. (Reuters)