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‘SNL’s’ Cecily Strong joins Melissa McCarthy comedy ‘Michelle Darnell’

Cecily Strong was born in Springfield, Ill., and was raised in Oak Park. She studied at The Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago. She co-anchored "Weekend Update" with Chicago native Seth Meyers on "Saturday Night Live."
Carolyn Van Houten, Chicago Tribune
Cecily Strong was born in Springfield, Ill., and was raised in Oak Park. She studied at The Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago. She co-anchored “Weekend Update” with Chicago native Seth Meyers on “Saturday Night Live.”
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It’s shaping up to be a busy summer at the movies for “Saturday Night Live” cast member Cecily Strong.

Coming on the heels of her appearance at the White House Correspondents’ dinner last weekend, the Chicago native has been cast in the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Michelle Darnell,” about a corporate tycoon looking to rehab her image after a stint in prison for insider trading. McCarthy co-wrote the script with her husband, Ben Falcone, who is directing.

The ensemble also includes former Chicago theater actor Timothy Simons, who stars as Jonah Ryan on HBO’s “Veep.”

The bulk of the film is currently shooting in Atlanta. But McCarthy (who hails from Plainfiled) is scheduled return to Illinois May 12 and 13 to shoot scenes in Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field. (For information about extras casting, go here.)

Strong, who is an iO Theater and Second City alum, has a few other film roles on her docket. “The Bronze” (a comedy about a less-than-wholesome gymnast) debuted at Sundance this year and hits theaters in July.

She is also shooting “The Meddler” (opposite Rose Byrne and Susan Sarandon).

The biggie coming up is her co-starring role in the upcoming “Ghostbusters” reboot, which shoots this summer along with McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and fellow “SNL” cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.

nmetz@tribpub.com

Twitter @NinaMetzNews