John Mulaney is a funny guy, there’s no denying that. And through his stand-up and his long tenure as one of the head writers at ‘SNL,’ it’s clear that he’s one hell of a creative force. So, on that merit alone, the upcoming Netflix special “John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch” is probably worth watching. However, if you still need convincing, how about the idea that this might be a sneaky sequel to “Okja?”
According to a new interview with Vulture, Mulaney talks about his new Netflix children’s show and, specifically, about the various guest stars that show up, including none other than Jake Gyllenhaal. And if you’ve seen the trailer for ‘Sack Lunch Bunch,’ the appearance of Gyllenhaal gives off some serious “Okja” vibes. Apparently, while not on purpose, that isn’t just some happy coincidence.
“I wanted [laughs] — he was my No. 1 wish, because when he hosted ‘SNL,’ and in this movie I saw, ‘Okja,’ he made very strong choices, which not a lot of actors do,” explained Mulaney. “And we thought Mr. Music has to be a bit of a lunatic, and it’s a calypso song, so we needed someone who would own that enthusiasm.”
He continued, “When I talked to him on the phone, he said, ‘How do you want me to play it?’ And I said, ‘I can’t stress enough how much I want you to make your own choice.’ And he started laughing and said, ‘Oh, mmmkay, all right.’ I didn’t say anything about ‘Okja.’ And we were on the set after shooting Mr. Music, day two, and he wandered over and said, ‘I feel like this is “Okja II.”’ And I said, ‘Funny you mention that, because this to us is like the drunk guy from “Okja” but he’s been sober for two days.’”
So, while you may not be interested in the entirety of what John Mulaney has in store for his upcoming Netflix series, there’s Jake Gyllenhaal basically presenting “Okja II.” If that doesn’t warrant just a little peek at ‘The Sack Lunch Bunch,’ then we don’t know what else can convince you.
“John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch” arrives on Netflix on December 24. You can see Gyllenhaal and the rest of the gang in the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
I’m John Mulaney and I am a 37 year old man. The Sack Lunch Bunch is a group of children ages 8-13 who are more talented than me. In this special, we are joined by celebrity guests like David Byrne, Tony Award Winner Andre De Shields, Natasha Lyonne, Annaleigh Ashford, Shereen Pimentel, Richard Kind, and Jake Gyllenhaal from the movie Zodiac. The result is a collage of Broadway caliber showstoppers, comedy sketches for all ages, meditations on the unknown from children and adults, and a papier mache volcano. It’s funny, musical, joyous, anxious, and surprisingly profound.