Community Star Gillian Jacobs, Aladdins Marwan Kenzari to Lead XYZ Films

“Community” and “Love” star Gillian Jacobs and “Aladdin” break-out Marwan Kenzari are set to lead Berlin-set romantic comedy “Any Other Night.”

Written by Patrick Whistler and directed by Michiel Ten Horn, the comedy follows two strangers thrown together as their lives are falling apart. Freshly dumped Maggie (Jacobs) and flailing cab driver Max (Kenzari) meet the night of a crippling transit strike, with the latter loading all of Maggie’s worldly possessions into the back of his decrepit van-cab. What should have been a simple fare becomes a wild, late-night odyssey.

“Any Other Night” is produced by Mike MacMillan of Lithium Studios, the outfit behind Cannes Director’s Fortnight selection “Mobile Homes,” alongside Sol Bondy of One Two Films (“The Tale”). Todd Brown of XYZ Films executive produces the film with XYZ handling sales.

“I’m just so happy to be working with Gillian and Marwan on this film,” said Ten Horn. “Gillian has obviously honed such smart, sharp comic timing. Marwan brings an incredible on-camera presence, intense but likeable. This film is a chance to see them both in a new light, something a little different than audiences may expect. It’s exciting. Their energy together is undeniable.”

“We can’t wait to see Michiel, Gillian and Marwan bring this world to life,” adds MacMillan. “After such a difficult year for everyone, it feels like we need to laugh, to remember travel, to fall in love. It feels like perfect timing for ‘Any Other Night.’”

Jacobs starred as Britta in cult comedy “Community,” for which she was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for best supporting actress. She is also the star of Judd Apatow’s Netflix series “Love,” which ran for three seasons. Jacobs’ upcoming films include 20th Century Fox’s “Fear Street” trilogy for Netflix and “Violence of Action” for director Tarik Saleh, opposite Chris Pine and Ben Foster. She recently starred in the independent film “I Used to Go Here” for director Kris Rey and Amblin’s “Come Play” for writer-director Jacob Chase and producers Steven Spielberg and Andrew Rona.

Meanwhile, Kenzari played the iconic Jafar in Guy Ritchie’s live-action musical version of the Disney feature “Aladdin.” He can be seen in the Netflix feature “The Old Guard,” opposite Charlize Theron and Matthias Schoenaerts. Kenzari also played the lead in the Netflix original film “The Angel,” directed by Ariel Vromen. Currently, he is in Atlanta shooting “Black Adam,” alongside Dwayne Johnson. Internationally, Kenzari played the lead male role in the 2019 Dutch drama “Instinct,” and also starred in the Jim Taihuttu-directed thriller “The East.”

XYZ’s recent slate of sales titles include the completed “Stowaway,” starring Anna Kendrick and Toni Collette, which was released as a Netflix Original in April. Other titles include Netflix Original “The Trip,” starring Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie; “Cus and Mike,” starring Anthony Hopkins; current production “Nocebo,” with Eva Green and Mark Strong; Sion Sono’s “Prisoners of the Ghost Land,” starring Nicolas Cage and Sofia Boutella, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival; and SXSW horror-thriller “Gaia,” which was recently acquired by Decal.

XYZ is also in post-production on “Dual,” starring Karen Gillan, Aaron Paul and Beulah Koale.

Jacobs is represented by UTA, Authentic Talent and Literary Management, and LGNAFC. Kenzari is represented by ICM Partners.

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Reinaldo Massengill

Update: 2024-02-24

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