Well, this is a big bummer and perhaps an unfortunate sign that Universal has lost faith in the project, at least on the theatrical level. “Please Don’t Destroy,” the new upcoming comedy from the “Saturday Night Live” trio Please Don’t Destroy, produced by Judd Apatow, is no longer going to be released theatrically by Universal. Instead, Variety reports that the film, that the film will debut on Peacock instead later this summer.
Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, the trio known as Please Don’t Destroy, made their name with amazing, hilarious viral skits on social media. The skits were so funny and so well shared around the globe they were quickly scooped up by “Saturday Night Live” to run their digital shorts series—the not-live, more produced sketches that Andy Samberg’s Lonely Island comedy troupe used to produce for ‘SNL.’
The film was originally intended for an August 18 release, and now it has been moved to Peacock, the streaming service owned by NBCUniversal, on Nov. 17.
Marshall, Higgins, and Herlihy wrote the film, which centers on three childhood friends who live and work together. When the threesome decides they don’t like their life trajectory, they set off to find a gold treasure that is rumored to be buried in the nearby mountain. They discover that finding the treasure is actually the easiest part of the adventure.
Aside from the trio who star in the comedy, the film also features SNL alumni like Bowen Yang and comedians like Conan O’Brien. Other cast members set to appear in the film include Meg Statler (“Hacks”), X Mayo (“The Daily Show”), and Nichole Sakura (“Superstore”). Paul Briganti (“Greener Grass” 2015, “Kids Reenact,” 2009, and “Donald and Jess” 2015) directed the movie.
The film was scheduled to be released on the same opening on the same day as Warner Bros.’ upcoming “Blue Beetle” movie from DC, and while it’s unclear if that’s going to track theatrically, perhaps Uni thought “Please Don’t Destroy” just weren’t powerful enough to face a superhero.