Aussie actress Rose Byrne is currently earning raves for her bawdy turn in the frat vs. family R-rated comedy Neighbors, thoroughly ingratiating herself into the naughty boys club of raunchy humor.  Now comes word from The Hollywood Reporter that the actress is being eyed for a role in an upcoming comedy entitled The Something about astronauts lost in space.  Think of a high concept tweeking of Gravity for the Judd Apatow set.  Byrne’s role is being described as a love interest with an ” approachable beauty, though she hates being approached.”  Beyond that little is known about the film’s plot or characters.  Rodney Rothman, the former head writer of Late Show with David Letterman and co-writer of the pugilist film Grudge Match and the upcoming 22 Jump Street, will make his directorial debut for The Something, which is being produced by Seth Rogen’s Point Cherry Pictures and Good Universe.

If Byrne does indeed sign the dotted line for The Something, it marks yet another case for the interesting career the actress has carved out for herself.  She first gained prominence a decade ago with supporting parts in the films as varied as Troy (2004), Marie Antoinette (2006) and 28 Weeks Later (2007) before earning a leading role on the FX legal soap opera Damages opposite Glenn Close – a role for which the actress earned two Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.  More recently and unexpectedly, Byrne has garnered more fans and favorable notices by embracing her funny bone, firstly as thankless support to Jonah Hill and Russell Brand in the 2010 comedy Get Him to the Greek, with her prickly turn as Kristen Wiig’s rival in the blockbuster 2011 comedy Bridesmaids.

Her career advancement grew exponentially once the box office numbers started trickling in for Neighbors.  Reviews and audiences embraced Bryne’s performance in the extent that her character is allowed to be just as raunchy and filter-free as her male counterpoints and her verve in keeping up with the improv-friendly film.  It’s way to early to gauge whether The Something will give her the opportunity to up the ante, but marks a hopeful refrain for a more gender equal stance in the modern studio system.

Bryne will next be seen on screen in the family dramedy This Is Where I Leave You as apart of an ensemble that includes Jason Reitman, Tina Fey, Corey Stoll, Adam Driver and Jane Fonda.  This Christmas, she will appear in the Annie update with Beasts of the Southern Wild Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz.  She recently wrapped-up the comedy Brother’s Keeper opposite real-life boyfriend Bobby Cannavale.  Finally, Bryne is reuniting with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig and co-star Melissa McCarthy for the espionage comedy Spy.