The central dilemma for the movie industry right now and one that has greater ramifications they’d love to avoid if possible: wait until the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and release films in theaters, or stop hemorrhaging money and release films on VOD. Unless studios get super desperate, you’re just not going to see blockbusters on VOD, it would just be a gamechanger that rocks the industry. But in a sign that some studios are just going to be forced to released mainstream wide releases that could have theoretically made at least $100 million domestically, Universal has decided to release Judd Apatow’s upcoming Pete Davidson comedy, “The King Of Staten Island” on June 12.
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“The King Of Staten Island” is a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama about Pete Davidson growing up in Staten Island, including losing his father during 9/11 and entering the world of stand-up comedy. Apatow’s always encouraged younger comedians to be authentic to their experiences, write what they know and mentor their instincts and this seems to be exactly what the “Funny People” filmmaker did: encouraged the “Saturday Night Live” comedian with a rocky, checkered past with substance abuse and tabloid life, to write about his personal experiences and if it works out, Apatow will direct.
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It’s worked many times in the past, see “Bridesmaids,” “Trainwreck,” and “The Big Sick” which Apatow produced and helped shepherd to the screen, and ‘Staten Island’ could be the next iteration of this idea (and if you’re keeping score, the avuncular Apatow has attempted this with dozens of comedians over the years, but not every script is a winner and sometimes studios just pass).
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Described as a bracing comedy about love, loss and laughter on Staten Island, “The King Of Staten Island” co-stars Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow Pamela Adlon, Steve Buscemi, Ricky Velez (“Master of None”), Moises Arias (“Five Feet Apart”) and Lou Wilson (“The Guest Book”).
Here’s the official synopsis:
Scott (Davidson) has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. He’s now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister (Maude Apatow, HBO’s Euphoria) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother (Oscar® winner Marisa Tomei) and spends his days smoking weed, hanging with the guys—Oscar (Ricky Velez, Master of None), Igor (Moises Arias, Five Feet Apart) and Richie (Lou Wilson, TV’s The Guest Book)—and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley, Apple TV+’s The Morning Show).
But when his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter named Ray (Bill Burr, Netflix’s F Is for Family), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life. The film also stars Steve Buscemi as Papa, a veteran firefighter who takes Scott under his wing, and Pamela Adlon (FX’s Better Things) as Ray’s ex-wife, Gina.
“The King of Staten Island” was originally scheduled to premiere at the SXSW Film Festival and then the Tribeca Film Festival, but COVID-19 killed those plans. The comedy arrives on demand on June 12. Apatow and Davidson have released an announcement video and a new poster below.