Ray Liotta Discovering A Better Living Through Chemistry

Ray Liotta in Goodfellas
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Ray Liotta might know a thing or two about better living through chemistry, though we doubt that’s what helped him land a gig in Geoff Moore and David Posamentier’s upcoming dramedy.

Deadline reports that the Goodfellas icon has been cast as Olivia Wilde’s husband in the planned feature Better Living Through Chemistry, which will be produced by Occupant Films. Wilde replaced Jennifer Garner in the former Black List script after the Alias star had to bow out because of her recent pregnancy.

Adding Liotta only amps the acting muscle in this impressive cast as Moore and Posamentier, directing from their own script, have already lured Sam Rockwell, Michelle Monaghan and Dame Judi Dench for pivotal roles. The story focuses on a humdrum pharmacist (Rockwell) who enters into a sordid affair with a trophy-wife regular customer (Wilde), sending both of their lives into a debilitating spiral. Better Living reportedly will begin filming in May in hopes of hitting a 2013 release date.

Liotta basically makes every ensemble better and later this year, he’ll shine in three additional features. Audiences will be able to see him opposite Brad Pitt in Andrew Dominik’s crime thriller Killing Me Softly; he’ll co-star with Ryan Gosling in Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines, the director’s follow-up to Blue Valentine; and he has a part in writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes’ comedy The Details. Most actors would kill to have just one of those roles. Liotta’s primed to slay in all three parts, and Better Living proves he just keeps piling up worthy challenges. It’s a good time to be Ray Liotta … and a Liotta fan, as well.

Sean O'Connell
Managing Editor

Sean O’Connell is a journalist and CinemaBlend’s Managing Editor. Having been with the site since 2011, Sean interviewed myriad directors, actors and producers, and created ReelBlend, which he proudly cohosts with Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy. And he's the author of RELEASE THE SNYDER CUT, the Spider-Man history book WITH GREAT POWER, and an upcoming book about Bruce Willis.