BURBANK–Principal photography is underway in Los Angeles on New Line Cinema’s yet-to-be-titled comedy starring Will Ferrell (“Get Hard,” upcoming “Zoolander 2”) and Amy Poehler (upcoming “Sisters,” TV’s “Parks and Recreation”), under the direction of Andrew Jay Cohen in his feature film directorial debut.
After Scott (Ferrell) and Kate (Poehler) Johansen lose their daughter Alex’s college fund, they become desperate to earn it back so she can pursue her dream of attending a university. With the help of their neighbor Frank (Jason Mantzoukas), they decide to start an illegal casino in the basement of his house.
Cohen directs from a script he wrote with Brendan O’Brien; the pair previously wrote the 2014 hit comedy “Neighbors.” Good Universe’s Nathan Kahane and Joseph Drake are producing, along with Ferrell, Adam McKay and Jessica Elbaum through their Gary Sanchez banner, and Cohen and O’Brien. Good Universe’s Spencer Wong executive produces with Gary Sanchez’s Chris Henchy, and also Marc S. Fischer.
Also starring with Ferrell, Poehler and Mantzoukas (upcoming “How to Be Single,” FX’s “The League”) is Ryan Simpkins (“Arcadia”) as Scott and Kate’s college hopeful daughter, Alex, along with popular comedic actors Nick Kroll (“Vacation,” TV’s “Kroll Show”), Jessie Ennis (TV’s “Veep,” “G.B.F.”), Rob Huebel (“Horrible Bosses 2,” “The Descendants”) and Cedric Yarbrough (TV’s “Reno 911!”).
The creative filmmaking team behind the camera includes director of photography Jas Shelton (upcoming “Keanu,” “Jeff, Who Lives at Home”), production designer Clayton Hartley (“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” “We’re the Millers”), editor Evan Henke (“The Interview”) and costume designer Christopher Oroza (“Hollywood Adventures”).
The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
