It’s time to raise “Arizona.” Danny McBride loves his HBO collaborators, David Gordon Green and Jody Hill. Together, Hill, McBride and Ben Best created “Eastbound and Down” and Green eventually started directing episodes. That collaboration morphed into “Vice Principals,” created by Hill and McBride with Green as one of the principal executive producers (all three split up directing chores with Green helming the entire second season).
Collaborations spawn from there too. The latest McBride project is the dark comedy “Arizona” and it’s the directorial debut of Jonathan Watson, who, naturally, worked as an executive producer and second unit director on the “Vice Principals.”
Set in the midst of the 2009 housing crisis, “Arizona” follows a single mom and struggling realtor — played by Rosemarie DeWitt — whose life goes off the rails when she witnesses a murder. McBride imprisons her due to her company having tricked him into mortgaging the home that drained his bank account and wrecked his marriage.
“Even though McBride’s sadsack loser goes on a killing spree in the empty suburban town of Harden, Arizona, it’s still played for darkly cynical laughs,” our review from Sundance wrote. “Arizona” also stars Luke Wilson, Kaitlin Olson, Elizabeth Gillies, Lolli Sorenson and David Alan Grier.
READ MORE: Danny McBride & Rosemarie DeWitt Shine In Overcooked ‘Arizona’ [Sundance Review]
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Arizona” Cassie (Rosemarie DeWitt, La La Land) is a real estate agent and single mom struggling to keep it all together during the housing crisis of 2009. Her problems go from bad to worse when disgruntled client Sonny (Danny McBride, Pineapple Express) violently confronts Cassie’s boss and then kidnaps Cassie – making one outrageously bad, and bloody, decision after another. Things completely spiral out of control in this explosive action comedy, also starring Luke Wilson (Idiocracy), Kaitlin Olson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), David Alan Grier (“The Carmichael Show”) and Elizabeth Gillies (“Dynasty”).
“Arizona” breaks into theaters, VOD & digital HD on August 24 via RLJE media. Collider‘s got the exclusive look at the first trailer which you can see below.