Emma Stone to headline Universal flick, husband Dave may direct
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Emma Stone is reportedly in discussions to star in an untitled project under the Universal Pictures banner, reported Deadline. Her husband, Dave McCary, is being eyed to direct this film. The news comes on the heels of her recent Oscar success for Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things. The script has been penned by Patrick Kang and Michael Levin, known for their work on NBC and UTV's Young Rock.
Production team assembled for the new Universal Pictures project
The production team for this undisclosed film includes Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and Dan Levine from 21 Laps. They will be joined by Michael H. Weber, known for his work on James Franco-fronted The Disaster Artist (2017). Additionally, Stone, McCary, and Ali Herting are in discussions to join the crew via Fruit Tree. The project will be overseen by Universal's Senior EVP Production Development Erik Baiers and Creative Executive Jacqueline Garell.
Screenwriters Kang and Levin have joined the project
Screenwriting duo Kang and Levin, known for their work on Young Rock and Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., are the creative minds behind the script. The pair first worked together as assistants on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Their spec screenplay was introduced to Universal by Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, who also represents them alongside attorney Sean Marks. Other details about the project are currently under wraps.
Stone and McCary's recent work has garnered acclaim
Stone's recent accolades extend beyond her Oscar-winning performance in Poor Things. She has also been lauded for her role in the Showtime series The Curse, where she also served as an executive producer. Meanwhile, McCary's latest projects include producing A Real Pain for Searchlight and Problemista for A24, along with an executive producer role on The Curse. Before this, he directed Brigsby Bear and was a writer-director on Saturday Night Live (SNL) for five seasons.
Meanwhile, Stone was featured in 'Kinds of Kindness' teaser
Meanwhile, in the latest teaser for Lanthimos's Kinds of Kindness, viewers were treated to a glimpse of Stone's mesmerizing dance moves set to Cobrah's track—Brand New Bitch. Clocking in at just 26 seconds, the teaser serves as a tantalizing taste of what's to come, confirming the movie's premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival and its subsequent theatrical release on June 21. The teaser also offers fleeting glimpses of other cast members, including Willem Dafoe, Joe Alwyn, and Hunter Schafer.