Kathy Bates Joins Melissa McCarthy in Comedy ‘Michelle Darnell’

Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates (Misery) has signed on to reunite with Melissa McCarthy for Michelle Darnell, a new comedy co-written by McCarthy and husband Ben Falcone, who will also take over directing duties. The twosome originally appeared onscreen together in the 2014 comedy Tammy. First broken by The Hollywood Reporter, Bates is set to portray the wealthy mentor of Michelle Darnell, former titan of industry who must reinvent her career after she is sent to prison for insider trading. The project, expected for an April 8, 2016 release, is being produced by McCarthy and Falcone’s company, On the Day, in conjunction with Will Farrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions. Looking ahead for Bates, she will appear with Octavia Spencer (The Help) in the family film, The Great Gilly Hopkins, and will reunite with another Tammy co-star, Susan Sarandon, for The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.