Phil Lord And Chris Miller Are Heading To Miami To Produce A Cuban-American Family Comedy From Natalie Morales
Phil LordandChris Millerhave been able to back such a strong string of hits that even attaching their name as producers on a movie can drum up interest in a movie. The duo behindThe LEGO Movieand21 Jump Streetare throwing their support behind a Miami-based comedy about a Cuban-American family from actors-turned-writersNatalie Morales(Dead to Me)andCyrina Fiallo(Good Luck Charlie).
Lord and Miller have teamed up with Morales and Fiallo for a Miami-set comedy that’s been picked up by Universal, according toThe Hollywood Reporter. The still-untitled project pitch from Morales and Fiallo, who will write the screenplay and executive produce, will be produced by Lord and Miller, who have worked on geek-friendly properties like 2018’s Oscar-winning filmSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Per THR, the story, which is similar in tone toMy Big Fat Greek Wedding, centers on a “Cuban-American woman forced to return to her overbearing family in Miami for a baptism, a quinceañera, a wedding and a funeral.”
Lord, in particular, probably has a personal investment in the project. The producer is of Cuban descent and is a native of Miami, and seems to have an affection for his hometown, having written and produced another Miami-set comedy,Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia, which /Film’s Ben Pearsoncalled"the wildest movie of Sundance 2020, and maybe the most outlandish film at the festival since Daniel Radcliffe played a farting corpse in 2016’sSwiss Army Man."
Morales and Fiallo are also both from Miami and have Cuban heritage, which suggests they’ll pull from some of their own personal experiences while penning the movie. Though Morales has started to become a fairly recognizable face due to her stints on Netflix’sDead to MeandSanta Clarita Dietas well asParks and Recreation, it’s unclear whether Morales and Fiallo will also star in this project. Morales also voiced a character inInto The Spider-Verse, which is probably how she struck up a relationship with Lord and Miller, who have taken toproducing filmsfrom rising comedians and filmmakers who have starred in their movies.
Also producing alongside Lord and Miller will be Lord Miller’s president of film,Aditya Sood.Will Allegrafrom Lord Miller andVincent Nastriof Bleecker Street Entertainment will serve as executive producers as well. Senior executive vice president of productionErik Baierswill oversee the production on behalf of Universal.
