Ed HelmsandTaraji P. Hensonare set to star in Netflix’s crime comedyCoffee & Kareem, Collider has learned.
Michael Dowse(Goon) will direct from a script byShane McCarthythat was voted to the 2014 Black List of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays. That makes sense, because I love this logline. Get a load of this…
Helms will play a Detroit cop who reluctantly teams with his girlfriend’s (Henson) 11 year-old son to clear his name and take down the city’s most ruthless criminal. Now I know what you’re thinking. This sounds an awful lot like the 1993 Burt Reynolds comedy Cop and a Half that boasts a 14% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But here’s the difference – Ed Helms is a lot funnier and more family-friendly than Burt Reynolds was. I mean, the guy is Captain Underpants for crying out loud. He’ll be perfect for this movie, which, it goes without saying, will all come down to the casting of Kareem. If Dowse finds the right kid, this movie could become something of a classic.
In addition to playing one of the two title roles, Helms will produce along withMike Falbovia their Pacific Electric Pictures Co. banner, while executive producers includeSanford Nelson,Jordon Foss,Linden Nelson, andDon Foss.
Best known forThe Hangovertrilogy and his starring role on NBC’sThe Office, Helms was most recently seen in the New Line comedy Tag oppositeJeremy RennerandJon Hamm, as well as the comedyFather FiguresalongsideOwen Wilson. Helms also had a dramatic supporting role in theTed KennedydramaChappaquiddick.
Henson is an Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner who currently stars in the Paramount comedyWhat Men Want, and will soon be seen oppositeSam Rockwellin the indie dramaTheBest Of Enemies. Her other credits includeHidden Figures, Fox’sEmpire, andThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Dowse most recently directed theKumail Nanjiani-Dave BautistacomedyStuber, which 20th Century Fox will release this summer.
Pacific Electric’s credits includeCorporate Animalsstarring Helms andDemi Moore, which was recently acquired at Sundance by Screen Media;Dito Montiel’sThe ClapperstarringAmanda Seyfried; and the Comedy Central specialThe Fake News with Ted Nelms, which won a WGA Award for the Best Comedy/Variety Special.
UTA represents Helms, Henson and Dowse, who is also repped by Fourth Wall Management, while Helms is managed by Artists First.
