Andy Samberg’s ‘42.6 Years’ Finds New Home and Leading Lady
Exclusive news reveals that the romantic comedy 42.6 Years, starring Andy Samberg, has shifted distribution from Amazon MGM Studios to Focus Features. Originally announced in 2023, the film is undergoing some exciting changes.
The biggest update? Emmy and Golden Globe winner Annette Bening (Nyad) is now set to star opposite Samberg, replacing Jean Smart. Additionally, Michael Schwartz, known for his acclaimed indie films The Peanut Butter Falcon and Los Frikis, has taken over directing duties from Craig Gillespie.
While financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, Universal Pictures International will handle international distribution.
A Cryogenically Frozen Romance
Written by Seth Reiss (The Menu, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey), based on a story co-written with Samberg, 42.6 Years centers on Ben (Samberg). After an experimental procedure leaves him cryogenically frozen for 42.6 years, he awakens and attempts to reconnect with his former girlfriend, Ruthie (Bening). The catch? While Ben hasn’t aged, Ruthie has lived a full lifetime without him.
Ali Bell and Samberg will produce the film through Party Over Here. Bening recently earned her fifth Oscar nomination for her performance in Netflix’s Nyad, and is currently starring in the Peacock miniseries Apples Never Fall and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!. She’s also slated to appear in the Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch and the Apple TV+ thriller Lucky.
Schwartz’s Acclaimed Directorial Style
Director Michael Schwartz gained recognition with The Peanut Butter Falcon, a heartwarming coming-of-age story that premiered at SXSW and earned him a DGA Award nomination. His follow-up, Los Frikis, a drama based on a true story of punk rockers in 1990s Cuba, also received critical acclaim.
Focus Features’ Expanding Slate
Focus Features is currently in theaters with The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist and will soon release Lorne Michaels’ documentary, Lorne. Their upcoming releases include a variety of genres, from horror (Obsession) to romance (Girls Like Girls) and period dramas (a new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility). They also have Robert Eggers’ Werwulf slated for a December release.
Samberg is represented by UTA and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole; Reiss by UTA, Framework Collective and Hansen.
