According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nope star Keke Palmer has signed on for the leading role in Universal Pictures’ comedy movie titled The Backup. The project hails from Kevin Hart, who is producing through his Hartbeat productions.
Palmer first became known for her early roles in Akeelah and the Bee and Jump In!. She’s also a former Nickelodeon star who led her own sitcom back True Jackson, VP. In 2022, she received critical acclaim for her role as Em Haywood in Jordan Peele’s horror thriller Nope. Besides The Backup movie, Palmer is also attached to lead Amazon Studios’ action comedy Moxie and David O. Russell’s Super Toys film with Sacha Baron Cohen.
“The film follows a player, Ben, who decides he’s finally ready to settle down with his childhood friend Alyssa (Palmer),” reads the synopsis. “Unfortunately, she reveals she’s engaged to a handsome billionaire and needs him to be her best man. This in turn sets in motion Ben going to the wedding in Maui with his boys to outshine her fiancé and win her back.”
The Backup will be written by Chris Brew and Jordan Gouveia. In addition to starring, Palmer will also be serving as a producer along with Sharon Palmer through their Big Boss Entertainment banner.
It is produced by Bryan Smiley for Harbeat and Autumn Bailey-Ford for Autumn Bailey Entertainment, with Hartbeat’s Patricia Braga and Kayla Stamps also set as executive producers.
