Based onAtul Gawande’s non-fiction book of the same name,Being Mortalwill markAziz Ansari’s first foray as a filmmaker. As a result, the comedian-turned-movie-maker is rounding up quite a cast for his leap into the director’s chair. Shortly after it was announced thatBill MurrayandSeth Rogenwould join the cast alongside Ansari, it has been revealed thatKeke Palmeris also slated to appear in the upcoming film in a currently-undisclosed role. While Palmer and Ansari have previously worked together as voice actors in theIce Agefranchise,Being Mortalwill serve as their first live-action collaboration.
Following her breakout starring role in 2006’s indie darling,Akeelah and the Bee, Palmer has forged a distinguished career for herself as a film-TV actress, singer, and television personality. She played the titular role in Nickelodeon’sTrue Jackson, VPand later appeared inScream Queens,Berlin Station, and talks shows likeJust KekeandStrahan, Sara, and Keke, the latter for which she was Emmy-nominated. Last year, Palmer won an Emmy for her performance inTurnt Up with the Taylors. As a film actress, Palmer appeared inHustlers,Joyful Noise,The Longshots, andMadea’s Family Reunion, and shestarredin this year’sAlice, which she also executive produced. Next,she’ll be seeninJordan Peele’sNopeand she’llbe heardinPixar’sLightyear.
Though details surrounding the Searchlight Pictures production remain limited, Gawande’s book,Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, explores death and aging, and how the medical field has historically failed both, asThe Hollywood Reporternoted in their original report. In the past, Searchlight noted that the new project will include “insightful humor and pathos” into otherwise morbid topics, and therefore find the humanity therein. Certainly, that sounds like a lofty way to make your directorial debut. But as theParks and Recreationactor has demonstrated withhis stand-upandhis acclaimed workon Netflix’sMaster of None, Ansari is unafraid to challenge himself and push himself and his viewers, creatively and comically.
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Along with directing the forthcoming film, Ansari adapted the screenplay and is producing the feature withYouree Henley. He is also slated to play a role. As it waspreviously reported, production is expected to begin later this month, and it sounds like Searchlight has high hopes for this new movie. The company is aiming to release the movie theatrically sometime in 2023, which is notable at a time when the Disney-owned company haspushed most of its featuresonto streaming services likeHuluin lieu of a traditional cinematic rollout. Suffice it to say, they’re hoping that Ansari’s feature debut might prove to be a critical and commercial smash, with some potential awards season cache to boot. But, of course, that’s purely speculation at this point.
Expect more updates to arrive regarding Ansari’sBeing Mortalin the days to come, especially as production takes shape ahead of its anticipated 2023 release.
