Lionsgate and Hulu have teamed to acquire North American rights to the dark comedy “Joshy,” starring Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Nick Kroll, Brett Gelman and Jenny Slate.
The film, which premiered in January at Sundance, will be released on the Lionsgate Premiere label and will be available to stream exclusively on Hulu following its theatrical run.
“Silicon Valley” star Middleditch plays the title character in “Joshy,” which takes place after his fiance commits suicide. He decides to take advantage of his bachelor-party plans with the few friends still willing to join him, but his self-absorbed friends refuse to confront the elephant in the room and ask him how he’s feeling.
The cast also includes Lisa Edelstein, Lauren Weedman, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie and Paul Reiser.
Jeff Baena directed from his own script. Producers are Liz Destro, Michael Zakin and Pally. Executive producers are Starstream’s Kim Leadford and Charles Bonan and Bow and Arrow Entertainment’s Michael Sherman and Matthew Perniciaro.
“Joshy” is Baena’s second collaboration with producers Destro, Zakin and Starstream following his 2014 comedy “Life After Beth.”
“We’re proud to expand our multi-faceted relationship with Hulu that already includes four original television series, our partnership in Epix and licensing of our content to their platform,” said Lionsgate president of worldwide television and digital distribution Jim Packer. “The extension of our alliance into film acquisitions signals a new growth opportunity for both companies and ‘Joshy’ is a great movie to kick it off.”
The deal was negotiated by WME Global on behalf of StarStream with Geobert Abboud, Eda Kowan and Lauren Freeman on behalf of Lionsgate.