Patrick Fugit Joins Cast Of WE BOUGHT A ZOO

Patrick Fugit is joining the cast of 20th Century Fox’s WE BOUGHT A ZOO. Cameron Crowe is directing, and this will not be the first time that Fugit and Crowe have worked together – Fugit starred in Crowe’s Almost Famous back in 2000.

In addition to Fugit, We Bought a Zoo is in negotiations to bring Elle Fanning aboard as well. The story, which is based on true events, follows a family that moves to the English country side where they operate a rundown zoo.

The screenplay is based on the memoirs of Benjamin Mee and was initially written by Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada), but has been rewritten by Crowe.

Fugit is set to play Robin a zoo employee while Fanning (if signed) will play Lily, another zoo employee who takes interest in the teenage son (played by Colin Ford) of the zoo’s owner.

Zoo already has Matt Damon on board as Benjamin Mee the father of the family who is juggling the care of reopening the zoo which is filled with over 200 animals, with the care of his sick wife (played by Scarlett Johansson).

We Bought a Zoo is produced by Julie York, and is planned on being released by Fox on December 23d, 2011.