Bill Murray and Aziz Ansari team up for a comedy about death

In what feels like a particularly random pair, Bill Murray and Aziz Ansari are teaming up to star in a new Searchlight Pictures film that will mark Ansari’s feature film directorial debut.

The untitled film, which Ansari will also write, is based on the bestselling non-fiction book Becoming Immortal: Medicines and What Matters In The End. Atul Gawande’s book explores mortality and aging in the modern era when doctors prioritize longevity at all costs.

This may seem like a heavy topic for two actors primarily known for their comedic work, but both Murray and Ansari have proven adept at balancing humor and drama. . Murray’s prolific film career speaks for itself, and Ansari has received critical acclaim for his quirky semi-autobiographical Netflix series. Master of No.

“Aziz Ansari is an incredible talent and with this script he delivers a unique combination of poignant humor and hilarious antics,” said Searchlight Pictures executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield said in a statement. The Hollywood Reporter. “We are delighted to be partnering with him on his long overdue directorial debut, and of course, once again working with the genius Bill Murray.”

The film marks one of Ansari’s most successful projects since the controversy surrounding a 2018 Baby’s post in which an unnamed woman denounces the former Parks and Recreation star of adultery.

The article was titled “I dated Aziz Ansari. It turned out to be the worst night of my life,” was less black and white than many of the other horrifying stories that emerged during the height of the Me Too movement about men in Hollywood abusing power for sex. , sparking a debate about whether or not the movement has gone too far. Ansari has solved article in his opinion, and apologized and asserted that the meeting was consensual and that he had done nothing wrong.

Searchlight has set the Ansari and Murray film to hit theaters in 2023.