It’s not every day that I get to write about movie news that genuinely excites me, but fortunately, today is one of those days, asBilly Eichnerhas signed on to write and star in an untitled romantic comedy from power-producerJudd Apatowand directorNick Stoller(Forgetting Sarah Marshall). See, I’m a big Eichner fan from way back, and I believe there are few comic performers more deserving of headlining their own movie, let alone one as fairly groundbreaking as this one. In what way, you ask?
Well, according to Deadline, Eichner’s film will follow two men who have commitment problems and are attempting a relationship. Now, I asked my colleagues here at the office, and we were hard-pressed to think of a gay romantic comedy from a major studio.The BirdcageandIn & Outare gay comedy classics, but neither really qualifies as a rom-com, and neither wouldI Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, which features two straight leads pretending to be gay for the sake of comedy.Love, Simonisconsidered a rom-com, and it’s hard for me to argue since I didn’t see the film, but I’m told it’s rather sexless (understandable, since it’s a high school movie) and I don’t believe that will be the case in Eichner’s film, which I assume will tackle sex as frankly and hilariously asAmy Schumerdid in Apatow’sTrainwreckandJason Segeldid in Stoller’sForgetting Sarah Marshall.
I suppose that’s what is so exciting to me about Eichner’s project – from what I can gather, it aims to treat the gay relationship at its core just like any other relationship, with the same highlights and pitfalls we’d see in a generic rom-com where in all likelihood, the straight guy is afraid of commitment (something that wasn’t the case in either of the above films, which is one of many reasons why they stood out).
Apatow will produce Eichner’s movie under his Apatow Productions banner, while Stoller will produce via his company Global Solutions. The project serves as a reunion between Eichner and Stoller, who cast the actor in a small role inNeighbors 2: Sorority Risingbefore working together on Stoller’s Netflix seriesFriends from College. This new film comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that Apatow’s next directorial effort will be a Universal comedy starringPete DavidsonofSaturday Night Livefame.
I first discovered Eichner running around New York City screaming like a madman on Funny or Die’sBilly on the Street, where his energy was infectious. He went on to star oppositeJulie Klausneron Hulu’sDifficult People, which I and many others dearly miss. At least us Eichner fans catch glimpses of the three-time Emmy nominee from time to time on Netflix’sFriends from College, in which he playsFred Savage’s fiancé (I’m halfway through season two, so no spoilers!). When I wassuggesting Oscar hostslate last year, I threw Eichner’s hat in the ring and thought he’d be great paired up with someone perceived as super-hetero likeJohn Cena.
Eichner has a pair of Disney movies on the horizon, as not only does he voice lovable meerkat Timon inJon Favreau’s remake ofThe Lion King, but he stars oppositeAnna KendrickandBill Haderin the Christmas comedyNoelle, which is expected to debut on Disney+. He was recently seen on the eighth season ofRyan Murphy’s FX anthology seriesAmerican Horror Story: Apocalypse.UTA represents Eichner, Apatow and Stoller, while 3 Arts and Mosaic manage Eichner and Apatow, respectively. Deadline broke the news.
