Kevin Hart and director Tim Story are back at it again—this time teaming up for 72 Hours, a high-energy comedy headed to Netflix. According to Deadline, Hart is set to star in the film with Story directing, marking another chapter in their longtime creative partnership that keeps delivering laughs.
72 Hours follows a 40-year-old exec who finds himself accidentally looped into a group chat for a rowdy bachelor party. Instead of backing out gracefully (or muting the thread like most of us would), he dives in headfirst, hoping the three-day bender with a bunch of twentysomethings might just be the key to reviving his lagging career. What could possibly go wrong?
Behind the scenes, the film boasts some serious production power. It’s being produced by Hartbeat, Davis Entertainment, Counterbalance, and Will Packer, with a script penned by Matt Mider & Kevin Burrows (The Package) and Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (of Cobra Kai fame). Ross Fanger is executive producing.
The project has been simmering for a minute. Davis Entertainment had been developing it since Hurwitz and Schlossberg’s original draft, but it wasn’t until Hart signed on—and brought Story with him—that the project got the green light and quickly shot to the top of Netflix’s must-make list.
This film is part of a unique partnership in which Sony Pictures offers Netflix first dibs on movies it’s producing for streaming. And when it comes to streaming success, Hart and Story know a thing or two. Their previous Netflix collaborations include Lift, which opened at #1 globally and pulled in over 32 million views in its first three days, as well as Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only and The Roast of Tom Brady. Even 2022’s Me Time grabbed the top movie spot upon release.
As for Tim Story, the receipts speak for themselves. He’s directed 11 major studio films—eight of which debuted at #1 opening weekend. From Think Like a Man to Ride Along and Barbershop, to even stepping into the superhero ring with Fantastic Four, Story became the first Black director to cross the $1 billion box office mark. Now, he’s bringing that Midas touch to Netflix once again.
Counterbalance, fresh off wrapping Cobra Kai, brings its R-rated comedy muscle to the table, having helped launch Harold & Kumar, American Reunion, and Hot Tub Time Machine. Add that pedigree to Hart’s comedic chops and Story’s directorial finesse, and 72 Hours is shaping up to be one bachelor party we won’t want to miss—group text invite or not.