It’s been 20 years since Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Billy Crystal (Standing Up, Falling Down) last stepped into the director’s chair for the HBO sports biographical drama 61* and now his latest effort, Here Today, is finally coming to audiences as Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films has acquired the rights to the dramedy.
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Co-written by Crystal and fellow Saturday Night Live alum Alan Zweibel based on his short story “The Prize,” the film follows veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Crystal) as he meets New York singer Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish) and forms an unlikely-yet-hilarious and touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust.
“I am thrilled that Here Today will be in theaters with real people soon,” Crystal said in a statement to Deadline. “It was a joy to write with my dear friend Alan Zweibel. To get to act with and direct the hilarious Tiffany Haddish and our fantastic cast was a blessing. I haven’t been this excited since I got my second Moderna vaccine.“
Alongside Crystal and Haddish (Bad Trip), the ensemble cast for the film is comprised of Penn Badgley (You, Gossip Girl), Laura Benanti (Gossip Girl, Younger), Louisa Krause (The Girlfriend Experience, Dark Waters), Anna Deavere Smith (Flora & Ulysses, For The People) and Nyambi Nyambi (The Good Fight, Blindspotting).
In addition to co-writing, directing and starring, Crystal produced the film alongside Zweibel, Haddish, Fred Bernstein and Dominique Telso, with Rick Jackson, Claudine Marrotte and Samantha Sprecher attached as executive producers and Astute Films producing in association with Face Productions and Big Head Productions.
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Stage 6 has set Here Today for a May 7 release.
