Multiple Emmy Award-winning comedian Louis C.K. has already established himself on the small screen with his successful and critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical FX series Louie and an impressive array of stand-up comedy specials. Now he’s setting his sights on the big screen: the comedian is set to write, direct, and star in a new indie comedy, I’m a Cop, and the upcoming film has already bolstered a powerhouse producer in its corner, the Oscar winner Scott Rudin (No Country for Old Men, The Grand Budapest Hotel). Dave Becky and Blair Breard (an executive producer of Louie) are producing the upcoming comedy alongside Rudin.
I’m a Cop tells the story of an unhappy, middle-aged man who moonlights as a volunteer police officer living in the shadow of his highly decorated retired police officer mother. When she dies, he decides to follow in her footsteps and become a real police officer, something he never actually wanted to pursue. The premise, with its mixture of angst, self-doubt, and regret, sounds perfectly in keeping with many of the themes C.K. has already handled with aplomb on his television series. The comedian not only acts, writes, and directs all episodes of Louie, but often serves as the show’s editor.
This isn’t C.K.’s first time directing a feature. He first directed the ill-fated 2001 Chris Rock comedy Pootie Tang, which he also scripted. The experience making that film was not an especially fond one for the comedian—Paramount Picture even removed him from the project during post-production. However, as stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, C.K. acknowledged a learning curve was required for making feature films. “I don’t feel like I need anyone to tell me anything with a TV show because I know exactly what I’m doing, but I’d be arrogant to think that I can take someone’s $8 million and just turn in a movie,” C.K. said. “Movies are different. There’s a permanency to them.
In recent years, C.K. has also established himself somewhat as an actor-for-hire, with well-received small parts in acclaimed films like Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine and David O. Russell’s American Hustle. He will next be seen on screen in the anticipated Hollywood period drama Trumbo directed by Jay Roach (Game Change). Trumbo tells the story of controversial blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, with Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston leading an all-star cast that includes Diane Lane (Unfaithful), Elle Fanning (Super 8), John Goodman (Inside Llewyn Davis), and Oscar winner Helen Mirren (The Queen). C.K. plays a fellow screenwriter.
Louie is currently in its fifth season on FX. In addition to I’m a Cop, Rudin recently shepherded the comedy Top Five, which starred C.K.’s pal Chris Rock.
Leave a Comment