Following a bidding war against several studios, Deadline brings word that 20th Century Studios has successfully won the rights to Gloria Sanchez Productions’ untitled comedy film, starring Golden Globe winners Sandra Oh and Awkwafina as each other’s sisters. The project was originally set up at Netflix when the streamer was the first one to acquire the rights last year. It’s unclear why Netflix decided to exit the project, but the outlet’s sources note that 20th Century Studios are currently prioritizing its development.
The untitled comedy film will be directed by Jessica Yu from a screenplay written by Jen D’ Angelo. It will be produced by Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum for Gloria Sanchez; and Italy Reiss, and Maggie Haskins for Artists First, with Gloria Sanchez’s Alex Brown as an executive producer. Sara Shepard will be overseeing the project on behalf of the 20th Century Studios.
“It follows a brilliant but tightly wound, Jeopardy-obsessed young woman who must reunite with her estranged, train-wreck of a sister when they’re forced to come up with the money to cover their mother’s gambling debts,” reads the synopsis. “The two embark on a wild, cross country trek in a desperate hope to win enough cash the only way they can think of—by turning our reluctant hero into a bonafide JEOPARDY champion.”
Oh will next be seen in the upcoming fourth and final season of BBC’s Killing Eve which is currently still in production. Meanwhile, Awkwafina, who after recently starring in Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will also next be seen in Apple’s drama film Swan Song, Universal Pictures’ animated film The Bad Guys, and Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid film.
