A 'Brand' new role

Cusack, Duff, Tomei to star in 'Stuff'

By MICHAEL FLEMING

John Cusack is starring with Hilary Duff, Joan Cusack and Marisa Tomei in "Brand Hauser: Stuff Happens," a dark political satire Cusack co-wrote and will produce.

Josh Seftel directs the pic, which shoots late this month in Bulgaria. Avi Lerner's Millennium is financing.

Cusack plays an assassin assigned to kill a Middle East oil minister. His cover is that he's producing a big trade show that includes a wedding between a local pop star and a politico, but complications ensue.

Cusack and Grace Loh are producing through his New Crime banner, along with Millennium's Lerner, Danny Lerner and Les Weldon.

Cusack penned the script with "Bulworth" co-writer Jeremy Pikser and Mark Leyner. Cusack previously co-scripted "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity."