Allison Janney In 'Struck By Lightning': Chris Colfer Gets Movie Mother

Allison Janney will star alongside Chris Colfer in Struck by Lightning, the indie coming-of-age comedy written by the "Glee" star.

The young star, who is also penning a pilot for Disney called "The Little Leftover Witch," based on a book by Florence Laughlin, and has a two-book deal with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, took to Twitter to announce the news from a "Glee Live" tour stop in London.

@chriscolfer: Struck By Lightning news!!! Allison Janney is my mom!!! I couldn't be more thrilled!”

Janney and Colfer were spotted lunching together two months ago, leaving some fans to speculate she might make a guest appearance on "Glee."

According to Variety, the movie begins when Colfer's character is struck and killed by a lightning bolt, with the rest of the film told in flashbacks that chronicle his blackmail-filled quest to publish a literary magazine.

The movie, directed by Brian Dannelly ("Saved"), will be filmed during Colfer's month-long break from "Glee" activities this summer. Janney will be seen next in "The Help."

Comments

[turtleisland]

10:53 PM on 06/29/2011

Exciting!

[Mike Clark II]

09:54 PM on 06/29/2011

he is penning a disney show? i am surprised. disney hates jewish people, blacks, and homosexuals.

[JavaJuice]

01:26 PM on 06/29/2011

I had no idea Chris Colfer was penning his own movies. That kid is talented! Alison is always a great choice.

[poomplet]

12:50 PM on 06/29/2011

We stopped watching glee mid season 2, as it got to be too much of the same. But my wife & I never understood all the "what a great actor he is!" praise that critics heaped/are heaping on Chris.

I guess he can be called a good singer, but as an actor, he's a one-trick pony; "young man coming to grips with his sexuality while suffering slings & arrows of cruel classmates & adults".

Call me when he can convincingly play ANY character other than that. Until then, I'll be respecting gay & straight actors who can be convincing in a variety of roles.

[Jazmo]

01:13 PM on 06/29/2011

I stopped about halfway through the second season as well, between stunt casting and beating us over the head with storylines and "messages" I got sick of it. I like Chris as an actor in Glee. I haven't seen him in anything else and will be curious to see how he does.

[amanandamouse]

03:31 PM on 06/29/2011

I didn't stop watching Glee but I do find his acting to be affected and his story lines too preachy. I will probably wait for cable on this one although it does have an extraordinary director in Brian Dannelly. 'Saved' is a wonderful movie worth checking out if you haven't seen it.

[wanglog]

09:19 PM on 06/29/2011

you've pretty well summed up what i was going to add. well said. i don't regularly watch glee myself, but the few times i have, this guy's "deer in headlights" reactions wore thin very quickly.

[Katie Muffett]

11:33 PM on 06/29/2011

Have to say, I think you guys are missing out. He's often the only part of the show I can take, because the other characters are basically going through a rinse and repeat cycle. He's the only one who goes on a real journey (and even leaves the original school for a while). The writers definitely give Chris a lot of weepy PSA speeches, and I can see how viewers would let this taint their judgement of his acting. It's not necessarily a good showcase for him being a subtle actor in a cast full of over-the-top characters. I really look forward to seeing his work opposite Janney.