Rodriguez Goes After A "Thief"

Genesis Rodriguez ("Man On A Ledge") has joined Seth Gordon's comedy "Identity Thief" says Deadline.

The story centers on a woman (Melissa McCarthy) who steals another man’s identity (Jason Bateman).

Rodriguez will play an associate to a local crime boss that comes looking for McCarthy’s character after she scams them out of money.

"Footloose" actresses Maggie Elizabeth Jones and Mary-Charles Jones will play Bateman and Amanda Peet's daughters. John Cho will play a rising investment executive, Clark Duke will play an Eagle Scout on a secret revenge mission to find the man who bilked him. Actor/director Jon Favreau will play Bateman's boss.

The script was originally written by Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness) getting a rewrite by Craig Mazin (The Hangover Part II).

When the idea was first hatched, Bateman was going to star opposite a male actor as the identity thief, but after seeing McCarthy’s scene-stealing work in Bridesmaids he pushed for McCarthy to be cast in the film.

In addition to starring in the film, Bateman will also be producing the pic with Scott Stuber.