Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks make a porno together!

The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films announced today that Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad) has signed on to play the lead in writer/director Kevin Smith’s and producer Scott Mosier’s Zack & Miri Make a Porno. Elizabeth Banks (40 Year Old Virgin, Invincible) will star opposite Rogen as Miri. The movie will begin shooting in January 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The announcement was made today by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films.

“Getting Seth in this flick is like suddenly growing an extra six inches in the crotch,” said Smith. “And as if that wasn’t awesome enough, we scored the comedically and aesthetically gifted Elizabeth, too. Cast-wise, I’m now extremely well-hung.”

Smith added “I wrote the part expressly for Rogen because he’s a funny as f-ck comedy god and we’re insanely lucky he said ‘yes.’ Dude coming on board is a total mitzvah. And in order to show my appreciation, as well as fit in better with Seth, Harvey and Bob, Scott and I will be converting to Judaism. Bar Mitzvah invites are in the mail.”

Seth Rogen will top-line this comedy as Zack and Elizabeth Banks will play Miri. Zack and Miri are two lifelong platonic friends who are deep in debt and enlist the help of their friends to make a porno movie for some quick cash. But as everybody starts “doing” everybody, Zack and Miri realize that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought. Additional cast will be announced soon.

Bob and Harvey Weinstein stated, “We could not be more thrilled that Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks are on board for this movie which is certain to be the next great chapter in our long and successful relationship with Kevin and Scott. Once again, Kevin has written a daring and entertaining screenplay that has attracted some of the most talented comedic actors working today. We look forward to working with Kevin, Scott, Seth and Elizabeth in creating another fantastic film for their millions of loyal fans and movie lovers everywhere.”

Zack & Miri Make A Porno marks the latest collaboration between Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier who have created many successful and popular films over the past 13 years including Clerks, Clerks II, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Michael Cole, co-head of production, and Carla Gardini, senior vice president of production, will oversee the project on behalf of Dimension Films.

The Weinstein Company was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corporation in 1979. TWC is a multi-media company that officially launched on October 1, 2005. Dimension Films, the genre label that was founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, is also included under the TWC banner.

Upcoming films to be released by The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films include: I’m Not There, an unconventional journey into the life and times of Bob Dylan starring Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale; the Sundance hit Grace Is Gone starring John Cusack; and Woody Allen’s Cassandra’s Dream starring Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, and Tom Wilkinson. Upcoming Weinstein Company films to be domestically distributed in theaters by MGM include The Mist, a terrifying adaptation of a Stephen King short story from three-time Oscar-nominee Frank Darabont; and the highly anticipated film from Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters.

During the Weinsteins’ tenure at Miramax Films the company released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films which received 249 Academy Award nominations and won 60 Oscars, have generated billions of dollars in worldwide box office receipts and billions more in home video sales. In its history, Dimension Films has released some of the most successful franchises including Scream, Spy Kids and Scary Movie.