Eddie Murphy, in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, has enlisted the talents of Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson for the upcoming film “The Pickup.” This heist comedy, penned by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, is shrouded in secrecy regarding its plot details. The film is set to be directed by Tim Story, who will also produce through The Story Company. Additional producers include John Davis, John Fox, Eddie Murphy, and Charisse Hewitt-Webster.
Sources describe “The Pick Up” as a heist comedy in the vein of “Bad Boys,” with Murphy portraying a man who becomes enamored with a woman and gets caught up in a heist attempt.
Burrows and Mider, the duo behind the 2018 comedy “The Package” and the Condé Nast series “Gentlemen Lobsters,” have a successful track record. Their latest script, “Shots! Shots! Shots!,” was acquired by Universal, with Jason Momoa set to star and produce alongside Dan Lin.
The film’s package, based on a spec script by Burrows and Mider, sparked a fierce bidding war, reaching seven figures with three other contenders. The collaboration between Murphy and Davis, with five films under their belt, includes the critically acclaimed Netflix comedy “Dolemite Is My Name.” Tim Story, known for his work on “The Blackening,” recently acquired by Lionsgate, is set to release the film on Juneteenth.
Pete Davidson, currently on a stand-up tour across the U.S., joins the cast. Davidson, known for his work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, his semi-autobiographical series “Bupkis,” and the critically acclaimed film “The King of Staten Island,” adds his comedic prowess to the ensemble. Upcoming projects for Davidson include “The Home,” “Wizards!,” and “I Slept with Joey Ramone.”
Keke Palmer, recognized for her breakout role in “Akeelah and the Bee,” has since starred in over 25 films and 30 TV shows. Her diverse portfolio includes Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” “Hustlers,” and FOX’s “Scream Queens.” Palmer, a multifaceted talent, recently launched the podcast “Baby, This is Keke Palmer” and founded her digital network, KeyTV.
This announcement follows the December 1 release of “Candy Cane Lane,” a holiday comedy starring and produced by Eddie Murphy. The film, produced by Charisse Hewitt-Webster, achieved significant success as the most-watched Amazon MGM Studios-produced movie debut on Prime Video in the U.S. and ranked among the top 10 worldwide film debuts within its first three days of release.