Mario Batali cast in 'Bitter Feast' film

NEW YORK, July 20 (UPI) -- Celebrity chef Mario Batali has joined the cast of the darkly comedic thriller, "Bitter Feast," now shooting in New York, MPI Media Group announced Monday.

Written and directed by Joe Maggio, whose film credits include "Virgil Bliss" and "Milk and Honey," the food-themed movie stars Josh Leonard and James LeGros.

"LeGros plays a New York chef and TV cooking personality, who takes culinary revenge on the food critic (played by Leonard,) who recently savaged his restaurant in a review. Batali plays the owner of the restaurant," MPI said in a release.