With a cover photo and guest-editing gig in Entertainment Weekly, features on CBS Sunday Morning and an appearance on The Charlie Rose Show recently, the comedy team of Key and Peele is poised to break out from the cult popularity of a basic cable sketch comedy show into mainstream popularity. Another step towards that will be moving to the big screen, something the duo is now preparing to take on.
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have signed a deal with New Line to make their first film, titled Keanu. Though it would be awesome if the story was actually about or involved the world-famous actor, the movie will focus on a cat that’s been kidnapped. Maybe that doesn’t appear terribly intriguing, but if you’re familiar with Key and Peele’s work, anything they’re working on sounds exciting.
Working with New Line continues a relationship for the comedy duo, who’s developing a reboot of the Police Academy franchise for the studio. Key and Peele will write and produce the film, with Peter Atencio — who’s directed every episode of their Comedy Central show — in talks to direct. (And if you have any doubt as to whether or not Atencio has cinematic chops, check out this brilliant parody of Les Miserables. Hell, just spend an afternoon watching Key & Peele skits on YouTube.) The project is scheduled to begin shooting next spring.
[Deadline]
