Aziz Ansari is set to make his feature directorial debut with Good Fortune, a comedy in development at Lionsgate. Ansari will also write the film and star alongside Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves.
Unfortunately, the plot is under wraps. But we know that things are moving quickly, as principal photography will begin next month in Los Angeles, while Lionsgate will launch sales at the Cannes Film Festival.
Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake said in a statement:
“We have indeed found good fortune with this film. We love the script and believe strongly in Aziz as both a performer and a director. And when you add in Seth and Keanu — two incredible world-class talents — toplining alongside Aziz, this has the potential to be a very special film for us. We moved quickly to land this project once it was available.”
This is Ansari’s second attempt at making his feature directorial debut. His first was comedy drama Being Mortal for Searchlight, but production on that has been indefinitely suspended over complaints about actor Bill Murray‘s inappropriate behavior on set.
That project also starred Rogen, and while there was initially hope production would eventually continue, it was officially cancelled earlier this year.
Good Fortune is reportedly entirely separate from Being Mortal, according to Variety.
Let’s hope for Ansari’s sake, and for the safety of the crew, that things run a lot more smoothly this time around. This will be Ansari’s first on-screen film role since all the way back in 2014.
Rogen is currently working on true story comedy-drama Dumb Money, while Reeves just released John Wick: Chapter 4 and will also appear in its upcoming spinoff, Ballerina.
#Peace.Love.GoodFortune
