News > James Brolin Steps in for Caan in Russell's "Nailed"

In the wake of James Caan's departure from the set of David O. Russell's political comedy "Nailed," James Brolin is stepping in to play the ill-fated speaker of the house who chokes on a cookie. Caan left the production when Russell directed him to cough as he was choking to death, a reaction that Caan claimed was physically impossible. Brolin's commitment to reality is apparently a bit more lax.

Kirstie Alley is also joining the cast, according to The Hollywood Reporter, as "a veterinarian who fails to remove a nail from the head of her niece (Jessica Biel). The injured woman travels to Washington to fight for better health care with the help of a disgruntled youth (another new addition, Olivia Crocicchia) and falls for a congressman (Jake Gyllenhaal)."

With Josh Brolin's career finally taking off in the past year, it looks like his father might be able to enjoy some of that sweet limelight, too. It's gotta be tough being known as Mr. Streisand most of the time, so good for him.

-David Morgan