Paramount has picked up The Island, an R-rated comedy feature pitch from Trevor Noah, with Neighbors writer Andrew Jay Cohen set to pen the screenplay.
The story follows two polar opposites—a powerful, type-A businesswoman and a devoted but unlucky high school teacher—who survive a plane crash and must learn to coexist on a deserted island. Noah reportedly developed the idea during the COVID-19 lockdown, inspired by the unlikely dynamics that come with being forced together in extreme circumstances.
Cohen, best known for co-writing Neighbors and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, officially signed on to adapt the script earlier this year.
Behind the Scenes
The project will be produced by Noah and Sanaz Yamin under their Day Zero Productions’ first-look deal with Paramount. Norman Aladjem of Mainstay Entertainment also boards as producer, with Rebekah Cheyne and Derek Van Pelt executive producing.
For Noah, this marks another step in his post–Daily Show career. Since leaving the late-night desk in 2022, he’s expanded his portfolio as a comedian, producer, and media figure. He’s executive produced MSNBC’s docuseries The Turning Point, hosted the Grammys five times, and released his acclaimed Netflix comedy special Trevor Noah: Where Was I in 2023. He also currently hosts the SiriusXM podcast What Now? with Trevor Noah.
Why It Matters
While the premise plays into classic odd-couple survival comedy, The Island gives Noah a larger foothold in feature film production. It also extends his relationship with Paramount, where he’s now leveraging Day Zero to tell bigger, theatrical stories.
Cohen, meanwhile, brings a track record of commercially successful comedies that should help shape Noah’s idea into a studio-ready film.