Lionsgate has just dropped the first trailer for Good Fortune, the high-concept comedy marking Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut. Hitting theaters on October 17, the film brings together a delightfully oddball cast: Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Sandra Oh, and Keke Palmer.
Good Fortune centers on Gabriel (Reeves), a well-meaning but clueless angel looking for a purpose. When he’s tasked with saving a lost soul, he finds one in a struggling gig worker (played by Ansari himself). Along the way, he also crosses paths with a wealthy venture capitalist (Rogen), who’s got his own brand of chaos going on.
The trailer opens with Gabriel chatting with fellow angel Martha (Oh) on a Los Angeles rooftop. He’s tired of playing it safe — he wants to change lives, not just stop folks from texting and driving. Martha tells him the way to save a soul is to find one that’s truly lost. That mission lands him at a late-night Denny’s, where he approaches Ansari’s character and reveals, in true comedic fashion, that he’s basically a “budget guardian angel.”
Good Fortune has been a long time coming. It was originally set to film under the title Being Mortal back in 2022 but was halted at Searchlight Pictures due to on-set controversies. Now fully reimagined, the film is produced by Ansari, Anthony Katagas, and Alan Yang, with Ansari and a roster of producers also serving as executive producers.
Lionsgate’s release calendar is packed this year, with the studio also rolling out Americana (August 22), The Long Walk (September 12), and The Strangers — Chapter 2 (September 26). But with Good Fortune, we’re getting a sneak peek at a quirky comedy about destiny, second chances, and the hilariously messy journey of finding your purpose.
Check out the trailer for Good Fortune now. Let me know if you’re adding this one to your fall watchlist!