Ramy Youssef has found the co-star for his feature directorial debut, and it’s an unexpected one: Sharon Stone.
Youssef and Stone are set to star together in “Martha & Muhammad,” an A24 comedy that Youssef will write and direct. The film follows a wealthy, white widowed socialite in New York who develops a relationship with a young Muslim man, with class, religion, immigration, and age all factoring into the story. A24 is producing and financing the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Youssef will produce through his Cairo Cowboy banner. Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie will produce through Central, while Christopher Storer and Tyson Bidner will produce through American Light & Fixture. Production is expected to get underway this fall.
“Martha & Muhammad” marks a natural expansion of the territory Youssef has explored throughout his career, particularly questions of religion, Muslim-American identity, family, assimilation, and contemporary American culture. His acclaimed Hulu series “Ramy” earned him a Golden Globe and multiple Emmy nominations, including recognition for his directing work. He also directed “Honeydew,” the celebrated Copenhagen-set episode of “The Bear,” created by Storer.
Youssef and A24 already have an extensive relationship through “Ramy,” his stand-up specials, and the animated Prime Video series “#1 Happy Family USA.” “Martha & Muhammad,” however, will be his first time directing a feature.
Stone, meanwhile, gives the project a particularly intriguing generational pairing. The “Basic Instinct” and “Casino” star recently appeared in “Euphoria” Season 3 and has several other projects in the pipeline. But putting Stone opposite Youssef in a New York comedy centered on religion, class, immigration, and a substantial age gap certainly sounds like one of her more unexpected upcoming roles.
There’s no release date yet for “Martha & Muhammad,” but with cameras expected to roll this fall, expect more casting to emerge soon.
