Eddie Murphy’s upcoming heist comedy, “The Pickup,” produced in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, has expanded its cast with four new additions: Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Ismael Cruz Cordova, and Jack Kesy. The film also features previously announced cast members Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, and Andrew Dice Clay.
Directed by Tim Story and written by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, the details of the roles played by the new additions and the overall plot of the film remain tightly under wraps. Producers for “The Pickup” include John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment, Eddie Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster for Eddie Murphy Productions, and Tim Story for The Story Company. Executive producers include Jeremy Stein and Vicky Mara Story from Davis Entertainment, along with Burrows, Ross Fanger, and Mider.
Described as a heist comedy in the spirit of “Bad Boys,” “The Pickup” features Eddie Murphy as a man who becomes infatuated with a woman and finds himself entangled in a daring heist. The collaboration between Eddie Murphy and John Davis has previously yielded successful projects, including the critically acclaimed Netflix comedy “Dolemite Is My Name.”
The script, penned by the duo Burrows and Mider, creators of the 2018 comedy “The Package” and the Condé Nast series “Gentlemen Lobsters,” generated significant interest, sparking a competitive bidding war. Tim Story, renowned for his work on “The Blackening,” set to be released by Lionsgate, plans to unveil “The Pickup” on Juneteenth.
Joining the cast is Pete Davidson, currently on a stand-up tour across the U.S., known for his contributions to NBC’s Saturday Night Live and his role in the acclaimed film “The King of Staten Island.” Keke Palmer, recognized for her breakout role in “Akeelah and the Bee” and a diverse portfolio, including Jordan Peele’s “Nope” and “Hustlers,” brings her multifaceted talents to the ensemble.
This exciting announcement follows the recent success of Eddie Murphy’s holiday comedy, “Candy Cane Lane,” released on December 1. The film, produced by Charisse Hewitt-Webster, achieved significant viewership on Prime Video in the U.S. and secured a spot among the top 10 worldwide film debuts within its initial three days of release.