Latest in Akiva Schaffer

EXCLUSIVE: One of Hollywood’s classic slapstick comedy franchises is looking to make its way back to the big screen. Sources tell Deadline that Paramount Pictures is moving forward with a new Naked Gun reboot, with Liam Neeson is in negotiations to star and Akiva Schaffer set to direct. While no…

Producer Todd Lieberman admits that when Disney first approached him about making a Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie around nine years ago, his initial instinct was to say: “I’m not sure that’s a wise use of time, unless we do it in a very different way than one might expect.” The standard version of the film that…

There’s no case to big, no case to small, when you need help just call: Ch-Ch-Ch-Chip N’ Dale Rescue Rangers! Akiva Schaffer and Andy Samberg along with John Mulaney are bringing some Lonely Island energy to the classic Chip N' Dale: Rescue Rangers animated series. During Disney Investor Day, it was announced that…

Lonely Island’s 27-minute Netflix “musical poem experience” is being called “a stunning act of artistry/fandom” — well, Netflix is calling it that, but, hey, why not, tongue in cheek or otherwise? The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, featuring the Island’s Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer, is certainly a…

2ND UPDATE, 10:25 AM: The family of Jill Messick has set a memorial service for this Friday at 11:30 AM PT. It will be held at Calamigos Ranch, at 327 Latigo Canyon Road in Malibu. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Women in Entertainment Program sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los…

The untitled movie starring The Lonely Island inhabitants Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone is a mere 12 months away. Universal said today that the music-based comedy produced by Judd Apatow, which had been referred to as Conner4real, will open wide on June 3, 2016. Directed by Schaffer and Taccone, the…

As the 20th Century Fox 3D Fantastic Voyage continues to take forever to get underway (script is there, but it’s pricey and they’ve had trouble casting it), I'm hearing persuasively that director Shawn Levy will likely take another Fox film, Frankenstein, as his next effort. John Davis is producing it. Fox wants to…

Newly svelte Jonah Hill (almost unrecognizably so) has been formally set to star alongside Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn in Neighborhood Watch, the Akiva Schaffer-directed Fox comedy. Shawn Levy is producing through his 21 Laps banner. Hill will next be seen starring opposite Brad Pitt in Moneyball, which premieres…

His eponymous FX comedy may have been snubbed in the best comedy series category, but comedian Louis C.K. still managed to become the most nominated person at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards with four noms, sharing the honors with The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. Louis C.K. was nominated in the…

20th Century Fox might finally be getting going on Neighborhood Watch, a comedy that has long been a priority. The studio is negotiating with Akiva Schaffer, who is one-third of the “Lonely Island” team that created those digital shorts on Saturday Night Live, to direct. The studio likes Ben Stiller for the lead role…

EXCLUSIVE: A comedy starring Wilmer Valderrama has landed at ABC. American Dad co-executive producers Murray and Judah Miller created the project, a live-action comedy with a musical component. They will write the script and serve as showrunners. Saturday Night Live writer Akiva Schaffer, who directs, co-writes and…