Mourning Mark Ruffalo Drops Out of Next Movie

After last week's tragic death of his brother, work is probably the last thing on Mark Ruffalo's mind at this point

After last week's tragic shooting death of his brother, work is probably the last thing on Mark Ruffalo's mind.

Now comes word that the You Can Count On Me actor has dropped out of what was supposed to be his next job, the indie dramedy Greenburg. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ruffalo will be replaced by Ben Stiller, who will make a rare dramatic turn in the Noah Baumbach-helmed project.

No official reason has been given for Ruffalo's departure, but considering the circumstances, it's easy to understand what his motivation might be. Beverly Hills police continue to investigate whether his brother, Scott Ruffalo, died from a gunshot wound to the head after playing Russian roulette. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed later today.

Ruffalo's not the only major departure from Greenburg. Amy Adams was supposed to costar, but she, too, has decided to pass, and a search is under way for her replacement.

Also taking a spin on today's Casting Couch:

• Paula Abdul's revisiting her Laker Girl roots, joining forces with MTV to search for the best cheerleading squad in Rah! Paula Abdul's Cheerleading Bowl. The one-off event, airing Jan. 3, will see five of Abdul's hand-picked collegiate squads bring it on.

• Scrubs star Sarah Chalke is ready to become a Maneater, starring in Lifetime's four-hour miniseries about a superficial socialite on the hunt for a hubby. Timothy Busfield directs.

• Evan Rachel Wood's Spidey sense will be tingling as Peter Parker's love interest, Mary Jane Watson, in Spider-Man the Musical, the highly anticipated 2010 Broadway superhero show featuring tunes by Bono and the Edge and directed by Wood's Across the Universe helmer, Julie Taymor.

• If the Gottis can do it, why not the Pellicanos? Kat Pellicano, the wife of disgraced celebrity gumshoe Anthony Pellicano, is shopping around a reality series called The Pellicano Girls, featuring her and her three daughters as they attempt to keep the family's private-eye practice in business. The prison-bound patriarch will participate via telephone.