Did Universal president Donna Langley inadvertently reveal the real plot of Judd Apatow’s upcoming relationship dramedy, “Funny People,” in an article with Portfolio.com?
The story plot has been under wraps, but this is what we know so far: it’s semi-autobiographical story about stand-up comedians (Adam Sandler who stars and Apatow were both roommates and struggling stand-up comedians at one time), it’s apparently “heartbreaking” in spots, and it focuses on a comic who has a “near-death experience.”
Langley says Apatow is good at depicting “what if” stories. What if a 40-year-old Virgin got into a relationship? What if a slacker stoner got a beautiful girl pregnant (if you don’t want to know the story, read no further, it’s potentially spoiler-ish, but having read it, it doesn’t seem like it’ll spoil the experience, but that’s us).
And for “Funny People”? “What if a very successful comedian thinks he’s dying and then finds out he’s not?” posited Langley. Sounds like the cat just got let out of the bag, huh? Is this a huge spoiler in the plot or just the logline they’re keeping semi-secret? We’ll find out soon enough, but Apatow shouldn’t be too distressed apparently Universal went after him “aggressively, with a big jump in his directing fee.”
The film also stars Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, the aforementioned Sandler and newer additions, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill. Shooting is supposed to start in the fall.
