Exclusive: Kieran Culkin to star in 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'

Kieran Culkin is set to play Wallace Wells in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World."

Credit: AP Photo/Diane Bondareff

HitFix has confirmed that Kieran Culkin has been cast as Wallace Wells in Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World."

Based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's popular series of "Scott Pilgrim" graphic novels, the new movie finds the title character (played by Michael Cera) having to defeat his girlfriend's seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to win her heart.  In the books, Wells is Pilgrim's gay roommate (they share a bed even though Pilgrim is heterosexual).  Unlike Pilgrim though, Wells is considered the more responsible of the duo and also know for his pithy observations.

The 26-year-old Culkin hasn't appeared onscreen since 2002's "Igby Goes Down," but has a string of films in the pipeline including "Lymelife," which will debut at this year's Sundance Film Festival, the long delayed Kenneth Lonergan drama "Margaret," Bruce Willis' "Three Stories About Joan" and "Paper Man" with Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone.

As of now Cera and Kiernan join Mary Elizabeth Winstead (playing the object of Pilgrim's affections, Ramona V. Flowers) as the only confirmed cast members of "vs. the World."  However, that should change with production ramping up for a spring start in Toronto.

The next literary chapter of O'Malley's continuing slacker opus, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe," is set for release in comic book stores on Feb. 4. It will also be available on Amazon and mainstream booksellers on Feb. 18.  Two more graphic novels are still expected to be released.