John Belushi Biopic Coming From Todd Phillips, So MTV Does A Little Armchair Casting

The big movie news today is that "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips is developing a biopic chronicling the too-short life of comedian and actor John Belushi. The portly "Saturday Night Live" vet passed away in 1982, at the age of 33, the victim of a drug overdose. In spite of his abbreviated career, Belushi held starring roles in what many consider to be two of the greatest comedies in the history of film: "Blues Brothers" and "Animal House."

Now Phillips, as producer, and screenwriter Steven Conrad are set to bring the tragic story to the big screen. Success hinges entirely on the proper casting of the Belushi role. Some names are already being tossed around, but I've got a few suggestions of my own. Share your thoughts on these and any other likely candidates in the comments section after the jump.

Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill is a fine comedic performer who, thanks to "Moneyball," will soon be taking his first steps in the world of more mature roles. Belushi, as funny as he was, is a complex character. It's going to take someone with more than a sizable gut and a knack for making people laugh to do right by this role. Hill could be that someone.

Zach Galifianakis
There's not denying that Zach Galifianakis' star is burning brightly right now. And he's got that connection with Phillips after "The Hangover" and the upcoming "Due Date." There are wigs and stylists to give him the right hair, and latex to shape up his face a bit. I just wonder if he has the dark side that will be necessary to really capture Belushi. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's upcoming "It's A Funny Kind of Story" ought to be a good indicator; if the "Half-Nelson" filmmakers can bring him to deliver a more nuanced, less over-the-top performance, he could easily become a frontrunner for the role.

Clark Duke
"Hot Tub Time Machine" star Clark Duke is the longshot of the list. He's young. Unproven. His roles in flicks like "Time Machine" and "Kick-Ass," as well as his role on the TV series "Greek," haven't been particularly demanding in a dramatic sense. But sometimes the young up-and-comer pans out as the right choice. Could Phillips pin his movie's success to Duke? You never know, but he'll have some other strong contenders to beat out if he makes the short list.

Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is probably the most multi-faceted performer on this list from a dramatic standpoint. Going all the way back to "Freaks and Geeks," he's proven himself talented at delivering straight-up comedy alongside complex emotions. He exists more in the Judd Apatow camp than the Phillips, but this could be the perfect role for him to cross over with. It also helps that, with a little wig work, he bears no small resemblance to the late comedian.

Artie Lange
I take it back, my comment about Duke being the longshot. That dubious honor really belongs to Artie Lange, the troubled comedian and "Howard Stern Show" radio personality. What Lange really has going for him as far as this role goes is personal experience. Like Belushi, Lange is dogged by many demons. If he can channel that humanity, the facets of his life that mirror Belushi's, the result could rival the best of what biopics have offered. Unfortunately, as is evidenced frequently on the radio, Lange is still wrestling with his demons. Sadly, it would be an incredible risk to hand such an important role to a loose cannon like him.

Bobby Moynihan
If there's any name on this list that you're confused about, it's Bobby Moynihan. Who is this guy? He's a current cast member on "Saturday Night Live" who bears no small resemblance to Belushi. He's got virtually no big screen experience and no starring roles. To go from contributing to a weekly sketch comedy show to leading a blockbuster biopic... that's a hard one to swallow. He's hard not to at least consider though, given his resemblance to the subject.

Tags Artie Lange, Bobby Moynihan, clark duke, John Belushi, jonah hill, seth rogen, zach galifianakis