Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) are on board to star in Par for the Course, a new comedy feature for Universal Pictures, which Brunson will also co-write and produce.
Plot details for the film are being kept under wraps, though we’re told it’s based on an original idea from Brunson. She’s co-writing the script with Abbott Elementary‘sJ ustin Tan, who will also direct, in his feature debut. Alex McAtee is producing for Point Grey, under the company’s first-look deal with Universal, with Brunson to produce for Fifth Chance.
Senior Executive Vice President of Production Development Erik Baiers and Creative Executive Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.
In a statement on the project, Brunson said, “I’m so excited to be working with Point Grey and Universal on Par for the Course. This is a comedy close to my heart, and who better to do it with than some of the best producers in the game. I’ve known Seth, Evan, James and Alex for a while and I’m happy to finally work on a project together.”
Brunson added that she’s “thrilled” to have the opportunity to work with her “long-term comedy partner and collaborator,” Tan, as well as another great talent in Hsu. Continued the actor-filmmaker, “I can’t wait to see what we can do together on screen.”
Stated Seth Rogen, co-founder of Point Grey alongside Evan Goldberg, “We’re so thrilled at the opportunity to get to work with Quinta. She’s one of our most incredible comedic voices working today, and it’s such an honor to get to work alongside her and watch what she brings to this project.”
Brunson is known for her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning work as the creator, co-showrunner, head writer, EP and star of ABC’s hit mockumentary Abbott Elementary, which returns for its fourth season on October 9. With the Peabody Award-winning show, she’s made history with the as the first Black woman to receive three Emmy nominations and the second to win an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. The show recently landed nine Emmy nominations for its third season, with Brunson being recognized in multiple categories. Additional credits for Brunson include Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show.
Best known for her Academy Award-nominated dual role in A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, Hsu has more recently been seen in Universal’s The Fall Guy and Lionsgate’s comedy Joy Ride. She lends her voice to the TIFF-bound animated feature The Wild Robot, which hits theaters via Universal on September 27, and is also set to exec produce and star in Laid, a new comedy series for Peacock.
A writer, co-producer and director on Abbott Elementary, Tan met Brunson 11 years ago, while performing at an open mic night in Westwood. Before breaking out together, they teamed to launch the scripted comedy division of BuzzFeed, where they created hundreds of viral sketches.
Mot recently releasing the fourth season of Prime Video’s The Boys, as well as Sausage Party: Foodtopia, Point Grey’s upcoming slate includes the half-hour Apple comedy The Studio, created by and starring Rogen; the 2D animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for Paramount+; and a theatrical sequel to Paramount’s box office hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, among other projects.
Coming off of success with Twisters, which has so far grossed over $274M globally, Universal’s slate for the remainder of the year includes the Peacock-bound John Woo pic The Killer (August 23), horror remake Speak No Evil (September 13), The Wild Robot (September 27), Pharrell Williams Lego biopic Piece by Piece (October 11), Wicked (November 22) and Nosferatu (December 25).
