Matthew Perry has joined the cast of the highly-anticipated and slightly-feared (by the industry) film adaptation of Peter Biskind’s best-selling novel “Down and Dirty Pictures”.

Like Robert Altman’s “The Player”, the flick both takes the piss and exposes the open wounds of the independent film industry. In particular, it exposes the machinations of Miramax, as operated by Bob and Harvey Weinstein.

The film will be shot with actors, but will include segments in comic-book inspired animation, and claymation.

Perry (“17 Again”) joins a cast of recognizable faces in the film – a lot, like him, from the world of TV – including Vincent D’Onofrio (as Harvey Weinstein, no less!), Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings”), Sally Hawkins, Hugh Dancy (“Confessions of a Shopaholic”), Bobby Canavale, and Elias Koteas (yep kids! Casey Jones from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : The Movie”!). Indy alumni like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are also rumoured to be making appearances in the flick.

Ken Bowser‘s film tells of Bingham Ray and Jeff Lipsky, a couple of novice filmmakers who plan – via their new company October Films – to take on Miramax Films. Ray and Lipsky hope to nourish art-house cinema and compete against Harvey and his brother Bob, creating a grueling, emotional battle over the future of independent film.

Shooting begins next month in Park City.

Source: Movie Hole.net