Multi-talented actor and comedian Marlon Wayans has his sights set on the comedy stage once again, this time with his latest uproarious venture, “Marlon Wayans: Good Grief,” on Amazon Prime Video.
In what marks his fourth stand-up special, and set to air this summer, the versatile entertainer is poised to deliver a side-splitting performance at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Armed with his trademark wit and irrepressible energy, Wayans dives into the depths of personal loss, grappling with the profound grief of losing both parents. From poignant reflections on the lessons imparted by his father to the unexpected challenges of caring for aging parents, including the uncharted territory of changing diapers, no topic is off-limits. And for those initiated into the “Dead Mama Club,” Wayans offers a hilarious yet heartfelt glimpse into this exclusive fraternity.
But it’s not all somber reflections—Wayans promises a riotous journey through family dynamics, revealing his candid take on which Wayans sibling reigns supreme in the humor department.
Recently featured on Variety’s Stand-Up Comedy roundtable for his previous hit HBO Max special, “God Loves Me,” Wayans teased audiences with a taste of the comedic gold awaiting in his upcoming show, bantering alongside comedy heavyweights Tom Segura, Sam Jay, and Matt Rife.
This latest endeavor adds another feather to Wayans’ cap, following his successful first-look deal with HBO Max, where he not only delivered a standout stand-up special, “Marlon Wayans: You Know What It Is,” but also showcased his talent as a host in the multi-act extravaganza, “Marlon Wayans Presents: The Headliners.” Let’s not forget his Netflix debut with the side-splitting “Woke-ish,” which solidified his status as a comedic force.
Beyond the laughter, Wayans’ cinematic legacy speaks volumes, with starring roles in the wildly popular “Scary Movie” franchises, as well as critically acclaimed performances in Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream” and Sofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks,” collectively amassing a staggering $1 billion globally.
Venturing into new territories, Wayans recently graced the screen alongside industry Oscar heavyweights Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and Ben Affleck in Amazon MGM’s biographical dramedy “Air,” delving into the high-stakes world of Nike’s pursuit of basketball legend Michael Jordan in the ’80s.
And the hits just keep on coming for Wayans, with his upcoming role in Justin Tipping’s psychological sports thriller “Goat,” produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, slated to film this spring.
Wayans is repped by 3 Arts, WME, Vision PR, and Kevin Yorn / Ryan Goodell at Morris Yorn.
Source: Variety
Donald “Childish Gambino” Glover has hinted at getting back on stage for some comedic relief.
While recently speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about his newest TV venture Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the multifaceted star revealed that he still thinks about doing stand-up comedy and still writes down jokes in his spare time.
“I still write jokes down and I think about it,” he said. “I asked Bill Burr where to go, and I had a list, and I was just like, ‘Is it something that I feel like I need to do right now?’ Maybe it’s just a nice thing that’s there that you can try to do again if you want.”
Glover also admitted that Chris Rock is the reason he’s been thinking about the comedy space more recently. “Thought about it… Chris Rock had said, like, ‘When are you going to do it again? No one gets really good at it until their 40s, except for Eddie [Murphy].”
The “This Is America” rapper also doubled down on his 2023 sentiments about getting back in the studio to record music. “I want to, but I sort of feel the same about music as I do about stand-up right now,” he said.
At the top of 2023 during the Golden Globes, Glover teased, “I’m actually in the studio. I’ve been bringing people in, like secret people, working on little things. I’ve been just making it for fun right now. But soon something will happen. I promise.”
In December of last year, the 40-year-old also confirmed with TMZ that he was working on a new body of work, although there hasn’t been any news of a release since then.
“Another album soon,” he said at the time.
Whether the Atlanta writer will be hitting the stage for comedy or music, fans will just have to wait and see.
Source: VIBE
Jay Pharoah (SNL, The Blackening) has been set as the host of Fox‘s new game The Quiz with Balls. The series is set to premiere this summer.
As Deadline exclusively revealed earlier this month, the quiz show pits brains against balls combining a high-stakes quiz show with a large-scale physical competition. Each episode features two families competing for $100k in a “battle of the balls.”
The project hails from Big Brother and The Voice creator John de Mol’s Talpa Studios and Fremantle’s Eureka Productions, marking de Mol and Eureka’s latest project with Fox. They are also behind The Floor, the Rob Lowe-hosted game show that launched in early January.
The network teases contestants must work together while standing on a high platform over a pool as they face a multiple-choice quiz where each answer is allocated to a spot with a giant ball positioned up behind it. If the correct answer is chosen, the ball rolls down and stops just before colliding with the player. But if the answer is wrong, the ball will rapidly descend and mercilessly whack them into the pool below.
The more players each team loses, the harder the questions get. The longer they last, the more money they bank, until one “dry” family member plays the final round that could lead to the $100k grand prize.
“Playful, quick-witted and high-energy, Jay’s going to make a huge splash as our host of The Quiz with Balls,” said Allison Wallach, Fox Entertainment’s President of Unscripted Programming. “No matter the stage or show, Jay’s singular brand of humor and comedic timing elevates everything he does. With him at the helm of The Quiz with Balls, viewers of all ages are assured an exciting and hilarious hour of fun playing along with Jay and our family contestants.”
“When I got hit up about hosting an epic face-off between big brains and even bigger balls, I was like…’I got this,’” Jay shared in a statement. “Then I found out it was a game show series on Fox and thought…even better!”
Last Summer, The Quiz with Balls premiered on SBS6 in The Netherlands, where it averaged a 21.1% market share in the 20-49 demo, above slot average, leading to an order for a four-episode winter special. A second season of the show will air later this year. In addition to the U.S. format, Talpa Studios will soon announce other markets where this successful format will travel.
The series is produced by Eureka Productions and Talpa Studios. John de Mol, Maarten Meijs, Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening and John Leahy serve as executive producers. Anthony Carbone serves as showrunner and executive producer.
Source: Deadline
Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Hart are getting into some vicious shootouts in the first trailer for “Borderlands,” the long-delayed video game adaptation from Lionsgate that’s finally coming to theaters on Aug. 9.
Based on the popular first-person shooter series of the same name from Gearbox Software, “Borderlands” movie sees Blanchett lead the star-studded ensemble as Lilith, an outlaw who returns to her home planet of Pandora after being hired by weapons manufacturer Atlas (Édgar Ramírez) to find his missing daughter. To aid in her mission, Lilith assembles a crew with five other outcasts to explore the dangerous planet. Hart, Curtis, Ariana Greenblatt and Florian Munteanu play the other members of Lilith’s crew, while Jack Black voices the robot Claptrap.
The large ensemble cast will also include Haley Bennett, Gina Gershon, Cheyenne Jackson, Steven Boyer, Charles Babalola, Olivier Richters, Janina Gavankar, Benjamin Byron Davis, Ryann Redmond and Bobby Lee. Penn Jillette, famous as one-half of magician duo Pen and Teller and a voice actor from “Borderlands 3,” will also have a cameo appearance in the film.
A “Borderlands” film adaptation has been in the works since 2015, with Lionsgate developing the project and Arad Productions producing. Active development started in 2020 when Eli Roth (“Hostel,” “Fin”) became attached to direct the film. The film shot in Hungary from April to June 2021. Ari Arad and Avi Arad produce through Arad Productions, while Erik Feig produces through Picturestart.
Published by 2K Games, the “Borderlands” franchise began in 2009 and has since expanded with several sequels, prequels and spinoffs. Well received critically for its gameplay, visual style and sense of humor, the franchise has sold over 60 million copies and generated over $1 billion in total revenues for developer Gearbox.
Jillian Bell (Brittany Runs a Marathon), Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Damon Wayans Jr. (Players), and Brianne Howey (Ginny & Georgia) have signed on to star alongside Amy Schumer in Kinda Pregnant, the comedy that Tyler Spindel (The Out-Laws) has been set to direct for Netflix and Happy Madison.
Written by Julie Paiva, the film follows Lainy (Schumer), who is jealous over her best friend’s pregnancy, begins wearing a fake baby bump… then accidentally meets the man of her dreams.
In addition to Schumer, producers on the project include Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Judit Maull, Kevin Grady and Eli Thomas for Happy Madison, Molly Sims for Something Happy Productions, and Alex Saks for Saks Picture Company. The executive producers are Barry Bernardi and Michael D Robins.
Known for starring roles in indies like Brittany Runs a Marathon and I’m Totally Fine, Bell has more recently been seen starring opposite Eddie Murphy in Candy Cane Lane, also appearing in Netflix’s Murder Mystery 2. Up next, she’ll be seen starring opposite Nina Dobrev, Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howery and More in the mystery comedy Reunion from Artists Road.
An SNL alum known for playing the title role in comedy franchise McGruber and for his Fox series The Last Man on Earth, Forte most recently appeared in Uni’s comedy Strays. Currently, he voices roles in animated series Clone High and The Great North.
Starring alongside Gina Rodriguez, Tom Ellis and more in the rom-com Players, released on Netflix on Valentine’s Day, Wayans other recent film credits include Netflix’s Western The Harder They Fall and Apple TV+’s Cherry. Previously, he had prominent roles on popular sitcoms New Girls and Happy Endings.
Known for her starring role on Netflix’s hugely popular series Ginny & Georgia, which has third and fourth seasons on the way, Howey’s other notable TV credits include Dollface, Batwoman, The Passage, and The Exorcist. She starred alongside Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine in the rom-com Plus One and will be seen coming up in Bobby Farrelly’s Christmas comedy Dear Santa.
Bell is repped by CAA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Forte by UTA and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Wayans by UTA; and Howey by UTA, Industry Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham.
Source: Deadline
Nicki Minaj wants to add some comedy to her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, and she’s looking to bring the “funniest man in show business” on the road with her this spring.
During an Instagram Live on Monday, Nicki asked the Barbz to help get Katt Williams’ attention to see if he’d be willing to join her tour for a certain price.
“I know that this is the busiest man in show business,” she began. “I know that he’s rich. I know that he’s the funniest man in show business. Can y’all hit up Katt Williams and ask him what would be his price… to be a part of the Pink Friday 2 Gag City Tour?”
Williams has yet to respond to Minaj’s inquiry, but it appears it will be a nearly impossible feat as the comedic legend is currently on his own The Dark Matter Tour through mid-May.
At that point, Nicki will be wrapping up her North American dates before heading overseas for the European leg of her world tour, which will take the Queen rapper into the summer.
Williams has continued to carry momentum generated from his viral Club Shay Shay interview with NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, which has racked up about 60 million views on YouTube since its January release.
While openers on Nicki’s tour have yet to be announced in full, Monica will be part of the North American leg, which she revealed during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show earlier this month.
“I get a chance to hit all these cities that mean so much to me,” she said. “Atlanta, of course, New Orleans [and] Nashville. We’re coming to every city that we possibly can. I’m really grateful for Nicki because she’s one of those people that always said, ‘Monica meant everything to my childhood.’”
Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 sequel arrived in December and debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 228,000 total album units in the first week. Her arena tour is just around the corner and is slated to kick off in Oakland, California, on March 1.
Catalyst Studios is producing and launching world sales on boxing drama Undercard, written and to be directed by Tamika Miller (Honor Student) and set to star Emmy winner Wanda Sykes in her first dramatic film role.
The movie will chart the story of a female boxing trainer (Sykes), who after abandoning her son, rises from the ashes to coach him in the biggest fight of his career.
The film is currently in pre-production, with Catalyst introducing the film to buyers at this week’s European Film Market.
Pic is co-written by Anita M. Cal and is produced by Anne Clements, Catalyst Studios’ Paul Kampf, and Mark Pennell, with Catalyst Chairperson Holly Levow executive-producing.
Comedian and actress Sykes is best known for roles in History Of The World: Part II, The Upshaws, Monster In Law and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her latest comedy special I’m An Entertainer was nominated for a Golden Globe, a Grammy, three Emmys, a Critics Choice Award as well as a NAACP Image Award.
Miller is known for her previous feature film, Honor Student, and her TV episodic work, which includes The Equalizer, Quantum Leap and Station 19.
Director Tamika Miller said: “Wanda is a tremendous talent and an absolutely force. When I thought of who to play the role of a former boxer turned boxing trainer, I thought of Wanda. Wanda is a woman in the male-dominated field of comedy and has been slaying it for over 20 years. And, it’s her fearlessness, determination and vulnerability that I see in this role as a trainer in the male-dominated sport of boxing attempting to do what no other woman has ever done – train her son to a world championship title. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Wanda onboard Undercard. And, bravo to Catalyst Studios for championing my vision!”
“I have been talking with Tamika about Undercard for the longest, I’m thrilled it’s finally happening. I am excited about entering this boxing world and looking forward to the challenge,” added Sykes.
“Undercard is the sixth film in our slate of original content we will complete this year,” said Holly Levow, Catalyst Chairperson. “We are incredibly proud of the quality of films we have produced while maintaining our company mission of creating opportunity for women and non-binary filmmakers to deliver a high quality, commercial slate of stories through their unique lens.”
Catalyst Studios’ EFM slate also includes Follow Me starring Connie Nielsen, psychological thriller Broken Bird starring Rebecca Calder, and the Spanish magical realism drama Alix starring Cristal Aparicio.
Sykes is repped by CAA and attorney Roger A. Pliakas.
Source: Deadline
Will Smith has lined up another hot title to his list of upcoming projects, having signed up to lead the cast of high-octane action thriller “Sugar Bandits.”
Based on the Chuck Hogan book “Devils in Exile,” the thriller centers on an Iraq War veteran who teams up with a crew of fellow vets to target the drug trade in Boston. Hogan — whose writing credits include “The Town” and “The Strain” (which he co-wrote with Guillermo del Toro) — penned the screenplay.
AGC International and CAA Media Finance represent the film’s worldwide distribution rights and will introduce the film to buyers at the upcoming EFM.
Smith and Jon Mone will produce through Westbrook Studios with Ryan Shimazaki overseeing; Stuart Ford will produce for AGC Studios, which is fully financing the film; and Richard Abate (“13 Hours,” “From Scratch”) will produce for 3 Arts Entertainment.
“Sugar Bandits” marks the latest film for Smith, whose last major feature — and the first since his infamous Oscars slap — was Antoine Fuqua’s “Emancipation,” which sold to Apple TV+ in Cannes for a market record deal of $120 million, but failed to make a significant impact on launch. He also has the untitled fourth “Bad Boys” film, which is still in production, alongside the upcoming sequel to Zombie hit “I Am Legend,” which is set to co-star Michael B. Jordan and see Smith reprise his role from the 2007 original (but use the alternate ending scene in the DVD in which he character lives).
“Sugar Bandits” was first announced back in 2013 with Universal developing the feature.
Smith is represented by CAA. Hogan is represented by WME and 3 Arts Entertainment. The European Film Market runs from Feb. 15-21, alongside the Berlin Film Festival which kicks off Feb.15 with the world premiere of “Small Things Like These” starring Cillian Murphy.
Source: Variety
Tony Gonzalez is set to guest star in the CBS comedy “The Neighborhood,” Variety learned.
Gonzalez will appear in the seventh episode of the show’s sixth season, which kicked off on Feb. 12. Gonzalez will play Derrick, Calvin’s (Cedric the Entertainer) new physical therapist. The character description states, “Derrick is a former pro-football player who helped Dave (Max Greenfield) with a previous injury. Calvin is eager to impress Derrick, but when Derrick comes to give Calvin PT at home, it’s much more painful than Calvin anticipated. Derrick needs Dave’s help to inspire Calvin through his painful healing process.”
Tony Gonzalez is set to guest star in the CBS comedy “The Neighborhood,” its being reported.
Gonzalez will appear in the seventh episode of the show’s sixth season, which kicked off on Feb. 12. Gonzalez will play Derrick, Calvin’s (Cedric the Entertainer) new physical therapist. The character description states, “Derrick is a former pro-football player who helped Dave (Max Greenfield) with a previous injury. Calvin is eager to impress Derrick, but when Derrick comes to give Calvin PT at home, it’s much more painful than Calvin anticipated. Derrick needs Dave’s help to inspire Calvin through his painful healing process.”
As an actor, Gonzalez appeared in multiple episodes of the long-running CBS drama series “NCIS.” He has also appeared in films like “XXX: The Return of Xander Cage” and “The Underdoggs.”
He is repped by UTA, SMAC Entertainment, and Jill Fritzo PR.
“The Neighborhood” has typically begun airing new episodes in the fall, but production was impacted on this and virtually all broadcast series by the combined writers’ and actors’ strikes that shutdown Hollywood throughout most of 2023.
Source: The Variety
Netflix is doubling down on Michelle Buteau.
The streaming giant has handed out a second-season renewal for its comedy series Survival of the Thickest, starring Buteau, and ordered a second comedy special featuring the actress and exec producer.
Buteau shared the news Tuesday during an appearance on Today.
The renewal for Thickest comes more than six months after the comedy, based on Buteau’s book of essays, launched on the service. The eight-episode series currently has an impressive 85 percent score among critics and 89 percent rating among viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. The comedy earned seven NAACP Awards nominations, including four for Buteau.
Thickest revolves around Mavis (Buteau), a newly single woman who has to rebuild her life as a struggling stylist. Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (The Carmichael Show, New Girl) co-created the show and serves as showrunner on the series from A24. Exec producers include Linda Mendoza; Ravi Nandan and Alli Reich for A24 and Anne Hong of Mosaic. Tone Bell co-stars.
The comedy special will be Buteau’s second for Netflix following 2020’s Welcome to Buteaupia.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter