Per Variety, Awkwafina and Ike Barinholtz will star in the comedy caper Crime After Crime. The duo will also produce, while STXfilms are overseeing the project.
Awkwafina will portray a millennial podcast host who agrees to help a convict that she has devoted her true-crime podcast to prove his innocence after he escapes jail and turns up at her house. Dan Gurewitch and David Young are writing the screenplay.
Adam Fogelson, chairman of STX Films, said in a statement: “Awkwafina and Ike are comedy powerhouses who make a supremely funny duo, and we can’t wait to see what they bring to this sharp and fun material”.
The casting of the two leads makes complete sense, as they’ve both broken out as comedy stars over the last few years. Rapper-turned-actress Awkwafina broke out in supporting roles in Ocean’s Eight and Crazy Rich Asians, and quickly turned that success into a starring role in A24’s The Farewell and a role in the upcoming Jumanji sequel. She’s also developing a Comedy Central show.
Barinholtz recently starred in the comedy Blockers, and has had a number of memorable comedic supporting roles over the last half-decade, including Neighbors and Sisters. He recently made his feature directorial debut with the Tiffany Haddish-led The Oath, and will next be see in Late Night alongside Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson.
Pairing the two breakout comedic stars together, in lead roles, has all the makings of a hit. Of course, the script will have a big say as well. Gurewitch and Young have experience writing for late night shows such as Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and The Late Late Show With James Corden, but have not written a film script.
Hopefully they’ve saved all their best jokes for Crime After Crime. A director for the project has not yet been announced.
#Peace.Love.CrimeAfterCrime
