Currently unnamed, Universal Pictures and Apatow Productions will collaborate on a buddy comedy for release next summer. Comedy genius Judd Apatow will produce the film written and starring Saturday Night Live breakthrough group Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, better known as Please Don’t Destroy. While the film’s title is still a work in progress, August 18th, 2023 is the current target date for its theatrical premiere. Marshall, Higgins, and Herlihy are three boyhood friends who grew up together and now live and work together in an untitled project that has been described as the next generation of buddy comedy. Having grown weary of their daily routines, the three pals concoct a crazy plan to change things up.
In the spirit of The Goonies and Workaholics, the trio decides they have nothing to lose & embarks on a quest to find a lost treasure. Marshall, Higgins, and Herlihy will write and appear in the untitled picture, which will mark their feature film acting debuts. They will also serve as executive producers alongside their responsibilities as writers and stars. After meeting at NYU, they were all recruited as writers for the 47th season of NBC’s live sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, much as their characters had been in the previous four seasons. When SNL’s previous shorts trio, The Lonely Island, was disbanded, the three were tasked with taking their place.
In addition to “Three Sad Virgins,” “Rami Wants a Treat,” and “Hard Seltzer,” Please Don’t Destroy has produced a lot more remarkable drawings. An Apatow Productions deal has been struck with Bad Teacher’s Jimmy Miller to produce the film. Trainwreck, Bridesmaids, Anchorman, Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, and Apatow’s work with up-and-coming comedians have made the two names practically synonymous with irreverent buddy comedy from the previous two decades. Kisten Wiig, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Pete Davidson, and most recently Billy Eichner (in the forthcoming film Bros.) are just a few of the now-famous actors he’s worked with in the past. Untitled film director Paul Briganti has been hired at this moment. Chad, Adam Ruins Everything, and At Home With Amy Sedaris are among his other projects. Please Don’t Destroy will be executive produced by Joshua Church of Apatow Productions, M. Riley of Mosaic, and Sam Hansen and Michael Sledd of Mosaic. The unnamed comedy is now filming in North Carolina, and more cast members are anticipated to join the group in the following weeks.