Anthony Mackie, Aubrey Plaza eye 'Splintered Thing'

Anthony Mackie, Aubrey Plaza eye 'Splintered Thing'

Giovanni Ribisi, Philip Baker Hall also in talks for indie pic

Anthony Mackie, Aubrey Plaza, Giovanni Ribisi and Philip Baker Hall are all in various stages of negotiations to join Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan in Justin Reardon's indie pic "A Many Splintered Thing."

Described as an anti-romantic comedy, the offbeat film stars Evans as a man disillusioned by love who meets an engaged woman (Monaghan). Excited by the challenge and egged on by his friends, he feigns a platonic relationship in order to keep seeing her as he tries to win her heart.

Veteran commercials helmer Reardon is directing from a Black List script by Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair. McG and Mary Viola are producing with Nicolas Chartier and Craig Flores of Voltage Pictures, which is financing the pic and handling foreign sales. Production starts at the end of the month.

Mackie, who will reteam with Evans on Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" following "Splintered Thing," is repped by UTA and Inspire Entertainment. Thesp next stars in Ruben Fleischer's "Gangster Squad" and Michael Bay's "Pain and Gain."

"Parks and Recreation" star Plaza is coming off the indie hit "Safety Not Guaranteed" and recently shared the screen with Mackie in "10 Years." Her upcoming pics include CBS Films' comedy "The To Do List," Voltage's "The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman" and Roman Coppola's "A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III." She's repped by CAA and the Schiff Co.

Ribisi, who is coming off a pair of Universal pics starring Mark Wahlberg in "Ted" and "Contraband," will also be seen in "Gangster Squad." He's repped by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Stewart Brookman.

Paradigm-repped Hall, who recently appeared in "50/50" and "People Like Us," will next be seen in Ben Affleck's "Argo."

Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com