Awkwafina, John Cena, and Simu Liu have all signed on to star in upcoming action-comedy Grand Death Lotto for Amazon Prime Video. Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) will produce and direct the film from a script by Rob Yescombe.
The film is set in the near future where a competition known as the Grand Lottery has been established in an economically challenged California. But, there’s a catch: if anyone kills the winner before sundown, they can legally claim their prize.
So, when new LA transplant Katie accidentally finds herself with the winning ticket, she must join forces with amateur jackpot protector Noel to make it to sundown in order to claim her multi-billion dollar prize. But this is all while dealing with Noel’s protection rival Louis Lewis, who also wants to get her to sundown in order to claim his rich protection commission.
“I love action comedy and extreme physical comedy and this movie has both in abundance, as well as a boatload of heart and hilarity.” Feig said in a statement. “This lotto will make winners of us all.”
The action-comedy used to be a multiplex staple before the cinematic landscape changed in the 21st century. Now they’re few and far between, with films like Stuber and Free Guy being recent additions to the genre. But it should be fun to watch talented actors play off each other as part of an original, interesting idea, even if it is a streaming-only release.
Awkwafina will be seen later this year in Universal’s Renfield and Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. She’s also set to star alongside Sandra Oh in Hulu’s currently untitled comedy project about two sisters, while she’s also working on season three of Comedy Central’s Nora From Queens.
Cena’s busy schedule means he has latest Fast & Furious installment Fast X, Matthew Vaughn‘s spy thriller Argylle, and the sequel to Vacation Friends all lined up.
He’s also on board another Prime Video film: Peter Farrelly‘s Ricky Stanicky, which will also star Zac Efron.
Liu is just as busy, and will soon be seen in Greta Gerwig‘s Barbie, thriller Hello Stranger, adventure film Arthur The King, sci-fi thriller Atlas, and romance film One True Loves, with the latter arriving in cinemas next month.
Feig is also working on a sequel to his 2018 black comedy thriller A Simple Favor, which is also in development at Amazon. But Grand Death Lotto will come first, as it begins production next week.
#Peace.Love.GrandDeathLotto
