Adam McKay Directs Sony Sci-Fi Comedy, Scripted by Michael Shanks
Adam McKay will direct an untitled science-fiction comedy for Sony Pictures, The Hollywood Reporter says. The film will be drawn from a screenplay by Michael Shanks.
Project details
Sony has officially picked up the project. No plot details or casting exist yet.
The announcement has been summarized as Adam McKay Directs Sony Sci-Fi Comedy and Scripted by Michael Shanks. Production timing and budget remain unreported.
Michael Shanks: recent work
Shanks earned attention with Together at Sundance. That body-horror comedy became a breakout title and drew strong reviews.
Neon acquired Together for distribution. Shanks recently completed a follow-up titled Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel for A24.
Where this fits in McKay’s slate
McKay’s most recent feature was the 2021 Netflix satire Don’t Look Up. That film received a Best Picture nomination.
He previously directed The Big Short, Vice and Anchorman. This new job appears to be his first time directing a movie he did not write.
Earlier projects and financing struggles
Netflix abandoned McKay’s Average Height, Average Build last year. The planned film carried a budget north of $150 million.
The cast for that project had included Robert Pattinson, Robert Downey Jr., Amy Adams, Forest Whitaker and Danielle Deadwyler. Other studios declined to take on the large budget.
McKay also developed Greenhouse, a climate-themed film inspired by David Wallace-Wells’ The Uninhabitable Earth. That project, which eyed Amy Adams and Sam Rockwell, faced financing hurdles despite McKay’s praise for its script.
What to expect next
There is no confirmed release date or casting news. Observers say Shanks’ strong festival profile may have helped secure studio interest.
Filmogaz.com will track updates as Sony reveals more about the untitled sci-fi comedy and its creative team.
