Gregg Araki Adds 12 Actors to Dark Comedy Ensemble

Twelve actors have joined Gregg Araki's dark comedy The Decline of Fcking Western Civilization*.

Kal Penn, Michael Chiklis, David Koechner, Nat Faxon, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Steve Guttenberg are among the new additions, alongside Colleen Camp, Giovanni Ribisi, Judy Greer, Margaret Cho, Lulu Wilson and Charlie Bushnell, as reported by Deadline on 16 October.

They join Ashton Kutcher, Alison Brie and Jesse Williams, who were previously announced for the film, according to the same report. That brings the central group to 15 names.

The project is described as an ensemble piece, meaning the story is carried by a large cast rather than one or two leads. It has been pitched as Election meets American Beauty, a piece of industry shorthand that points to two earlier suburban satires.

Production kicked off in Los Angeles in mid-September, Deadline reported. Cameras are therefore already rolling.

The script is by Kevin W. Koehler, with revisions by Araki. The film is produced by Why Not Productions and Goodfellas.

What makes this stand out is the mix. The new list blends long-running comedy performers, character actors and younger talent. For viewers, this means plenty of familiar faces in interlinked roles once the film reaches screens.