What’s next for Paul Feig after directing “The School For Good And Evil” last year? It’s “Grand Death Lotto,” an action-comedy for Prime Video with a pretty dark premise. In the near future, California starts a Grand Lottery to help with its economic challenges, albeit with a catch: if anyone kills the winner before sundown, they get to collect the massive multi-billion dollar prize. Sounds fun and somewhat twisted, like a sun-splashed action movie version of Shirley Jackson‘s short story “The Lottery.”
And “Grand Death Lotto” has an intriguing trio for its leading stars. First up, there’s Awkwafina, who plays the unlucky lottery winner. Then there’s John Cena, who plays an amateur jackpot protector who wants to help her survive the day. Simu Liu plays Cena’s rival, who wants to protect Awkwafina to collect his commission.
Feig will direct a script by “Outside The Wire” scribe Rob Yescombe. Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum co-produce through Roth/Kirschenbaum Films with Feigco Entertainment‘s Laura Fischer and Feig. Cena co-executive produces the project with Zack Roth and Yescombe.
What do Awkwafina, Cena, and Liu have up next? On Cena’s end, there’s “Fast X,” out May 19, and Matthew Vaughn‘s Apple spy movie “Argylle” with Henry Cavill. He also has another Prime Video project out soon, Peter Farrelly‘s comedy “Rick Stanicky.” Awkwafina has “Renfield” in theaters next month, and “The Little Mermaid” on deck, too. As for Liu, Greta Gerwig‘s “Barbie” looms on the horizon, set for a July 21 theatrical release. And before he stars in other big-budget outings like “Arthur The King” and “Atlas,” Liu tries his hand at romantic comedy in “One True Loves,” in theaters on April 7.
As for “Grand Death Lotto,” production gets underway on the film next week, so expect it on Prime Video around this time next year.