The Incredible Jessica James, a new comedy which is set to hold its world premiere as the closing night title of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, has found a home at Netflix. The streaming giant acquired worldwide rights to the film, paying upwards of $3 million to boot, which stars The Daily Show alum Jessica Williams as an aspiring New York playwright. Jim C. Strouse (People Places Things, Grace is Gone), a longtime Sundance alum both wrote and directed the film.
Williams, best known for her four-year stint on the Comedy Central flagship The Daily Show, makes the jump in headlining her first feature film – she’s also appeared in Delivery Man, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 and on the HBO dramedy Girls. In The Incredible Jessica James, she plays an emerging writer who strikes up a relationship with a man (played by Chris O’Dowd, Bridesmaids) while on the rebound from a break-up. Noël Wells (Master of None) and Lakeith Stanfield (Short Term 12) co-star.
The Hollywood Reporter claims the title captured interest from several buyers before the Netflix deal came through following buzz built early on after a volunteers screening took place on Sundance’s inaugural day. Netflix is expected to release the film sometime later this year.