Judd Apatow to produce Kumail Nanjiani’s comedy “Big Sick”

PanARMENIAN.Net - FilmNation Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights and will fully finance Kumail Nanjiani’s comedy “Big Sick” with Judd Apatow and Barry Mendel producing, Variety reports.

Nanjiani, a stand-up comedian who stars in HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” will topline the film. He’s written the script with his wife, writer/producer Emily V. Gordon, based on true events in their lives.

Michael Showalter, who helmed the 2015 SXSW Film Festival audience award winner “Hello, My Name Is Doris,” will direct.

Nanjiani is also a writer, executive producer and co-host of Comedy Central’s “The Meltdown With Jonah and Kumail.” He appeared in “The Five-Year Engagement,” “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” and “Sex Tape.”

Gordon is the author of the recently released book “Super You: Release Your Inner Superhero,” a writer on NBC’s “The Carmichael Show” and executive producer of “The Meltdown With Jonah and Kumail.”

Apatow produced and directed Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck,” along with “40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up,” “Funny People” and “This Is 40.”

FilmNation Entertainment will handle all international sales. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the film and brokered the deal with FilmNation Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers, and will handle U.S. rights.

The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.