Sidney Kimmel Entertainment announced today that it will finance and produce with Academy Award-winning production company Plan B Entertainment (The Big Short, 12 Years a Slave) the upcoming Mike White comedy Brad’s Status. Mike White, best known for scripting Richard Linklater’s School of Rock, is both writing and directing Brad’s Status, which has Ben Stiller in final negotiations to star. The film will begin shooting this September.
Brad’s Status centers around Brad, who despite a good career and happy family, is obsessed with the better fortunes of his old friends from school. While escorting his son on an East Coast tour of colleges, Brad is forced to confront his friends and his feelings of failure – with hilarious and poignant results.
“Mike White’s bold comedic voice echoes throughout this terrifically funny, and often poignant story about family, friends and the curveballs life throws our way,” say SKE President John Penotti and SKE President of Production Carla Hacken. “Ben Stiller has that rare ability to balance his amazing comedic skills with an emotional depth that brings us all closer to his characters. He’s so perfect for this great part. We’re proud to be in business with Plan B on this terrific project.”
Mike White, who most recently co-created, wrote and directed the HBO series Enlightened, will also produce Brad’s Status along with David Bernad, Plan B and SKE.
Ben Stiller, meanwhile, most recently completed production on Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories opposite Dustin Hoffman and Adam Sandler.
