Casting for HOMO ERECTUS was critical. Because Rifkin was playing the lead role of Ishbo and had never starred in a movie before, he was determined to surround himself with seasoned professionals. At first insecure that a comedy set in caveman times with an unknown lead would not appeal to name talent, Rifkin and the whole production team were beyond thrilled when the strength of the script began attracting familiar faces.

ALI LARTER plays Fardart, Ishbo’s stunning love interest. Not only beautiful and talented, Ali has a natural gift for comic timing. With an impressive resume boasting many hits including VARSITY BLUES, FINAL DESTINATION 1 & 2, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, LEGALLY BLONDE and NBC’s hit series “Heroes,” Ali’s inclusion in HOMO ERECTUS is a coup.

DAVID CARRADINE plays Mookoo, Ishbo’s father and the leader of the Moonagongoon Tribe. A film icon, Carradine’s illustrious career spans five decades. The legendary actor has starred in countless hits including the recent KILL BILL movies and has worked with a who’s who list of prominent directors from Hal Ashby to Ingmar Bergman to Quentin Tarantino. Carradine handled his comedic foray in HOMO ERECTUS with an expertise that belies his dramatic pedigree. Explaining his attraction to the project, Carradine says the script, “is genius; it’s halfway between MONTY PYTHON and Quentin Tarantino. It’s full of philosophy while being laugh-out-loud hilarious.”

TALIA SHIRE, the two-time Academy Award nominated actress, (ROCKY, THE GODFATHER MOVIES, I HEART HUCKABEES), joined the cast as Ishbo’s mom, an overprotective stereotype of a ‘Jewish’ mother. “My God, what an extraordinary effort,” she says, “This is directing, writing and acting in one piece. It’s so funny, silly even, but still smart.”

HAYES MACARTHUR (THE GAME PLAN, LOOK, FOX’S The Big Handsome Guy and His Little Friend) plays Thudnik, Ishbo’s statuesque but under-evolved brother. Thudnik is tall, strong and virile; everything that the son of Mookoo, a great chief, should be. The prehistoric world of short animal skin skirts, mullet wigs and oversized clubs proved a perfect compliment to MacArthur’s impeccable sense of comedy and resulted in a breakout performance for the young actor.

Rounding out the eclectic cast are:

TOM ARNOLD (TRUE LIES, HAPPY ENDINGS) plays Rog, pre-history’s first gay caveman. CAROL ALT (HOWARD STERN’S PRIVATE PARTS) plays Queen Fallopia, the leader of a tribe of man-hating Amazons.
GARY BUSEY (ENTOURAGE, BUDDY HOLLY STORY, LETHAL WEAPON) plays Krutz, the ruthless, mystical, assassin spy from the warring tribe on the other side of the hill.

In addition to the names, L.A. Casting Directing Deanna Brigidi and Austin Casting Director Beth Sepko worked tirelessly to round out the cast with talented character actors and locals.

Copyright © 2008 National Lampoon & Town Lake Films