Bill Murray (The Jungle Book) and Aziz Ansari (Parks and Recreation) have joined the Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures’ upcoming untitled comedy-drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Ansari will also produce and write the project alongside Youree Henley. Henley worked with Murray as a producer on the actor’s 2020 outing, On the Rocks, and with Ansari on the comedian’s upcoming special, Nightclub Comedian. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight.
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Per the trade, the film is based on Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End from author Atul Gawande. The book is a 2014 non-fiction book by American surgeon Atul Gawande. The book addresses end-of-life care, hospice care, and also contains Gawande’s reflections and personal stories. He suggests that medical care should focus on well-being rather than survival.
As of now, details on who Bill Murray and Aziz Ansari are playing is being kept under wraps. Searchlight is looking to capitalize on both their comedic and dramatic talents. “Aziz Ansari is an incredible talent and, with this script, he brings a singular combination of insightful humor and pathos,” said Searchlight Presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with him on his feature directorial debut, which is long overdue, and, of course, working with the genius Bill Murray once again.”
