Trio to star in 'Smother'
Keaton, Shepard, Tyler to star in Inferno pic
http://www.variety.com

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Diane Keaton, Dax Shepard and Liv Tyler are set to star in indie pic "Smother" for Inferno Distribution, which has come aboard to finance and produce with Jay Roach's Everyman Pictures. Tim Rasmussen and Vince Di Meglio penned the script, with Di Meglio set to make his directorial debut.

Story revolves around a thirtysomething man who is fired from his job, pressured by his wife to have a baby and overwhelmed by his mother, who has decided to move in with him.

Producers are Roach, Rasmussen, Inferno's Bill Johnson and Germie & Bucky Prods.' Johnson Chan. Inferno's Jim Seibel, Jennifer Perini and Carsey-Werner's Matt Berenson are exec producers.

It's not the first time Keaton will play the meddling mother. Two of her upcoming movies, "Because I Said So" and "Mama's Boy," are similarly themed.

Shepard, who will be seen early next month in comedy "Employee of the Month," also stars in the upcoming "Let's Go to Prison" and "Car Wars."

Tyler stars in the upcoming "Reign Over Me" and is set to star in "Strangers."

Rasmussen and Di Meglio also have sold an untitled comedy project to Warner Bros. with David Dobkin attached to direct.

Inferno, launched by Johnson and Seibel, is a production, financing and sales company backed by hedge fund money. Company's slate includes the upcoming Gwyneth Paltrow-Penelope Cruz starrer "The Good Night" and Andy Garcia-Kevin Bacon starrer "The Air I Breathe."

"Smother" is budgeted at less than $15 million.