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 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.
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