Paramount Pictures just acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the female comedy from The Hangover writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and starring Leslie Mann (The Other Woman, Knocked Up). The project is the first big package from Bill Block’s Block Entertainment and Raj Brinder Singh’s Merced Capital and Kevin Frakes’ PalmStar Media Capital.
Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr broke the story last week that the comedy had been packaged and was going out to studios. Lucas and Moore will direct the film, which is based on their original screenplay, and are expected to start production this summer in New York. Paramount will release the film in theaters on April 15.
It’s currently planned to be dropped into a weekend with Disney’s live-action take on The Jungle Book and Lionsgate’s Mechanic: Ressurection starring Jason Statham and Jessica Alba.
Block Entertainment and Merced Media are producing alongside Apatow and Josh Church for Apatow Productions. The story details for the film is being kept under wraps. Block Entertainment partner John Friedberg will executive produce.
In October, Block partnered with Merced Capital’s Singh and PalmStar Media Capital’s Frakes to launch Merced Media, a $500 million new development, production and financing vehicle. Block is the former head of QED Entertainment.
Block and Friedberg are in production on Dirty Grandpa starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, which Lionsgate will distribute domestically. They alsohave produced and financed such films as David Ayer’s critically acclaimed Fury with Brad Pitt; Neill Blomkamp’s District 9; Elysium with Matt Damon; John Turturro’s Fading Gigolo starring Woody Allen; and Oliver Stone’s W. with Josh Brolin.
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