Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut has found its next star in Keke Palmer. The Searchlight Pictures project will also be starring Bill Murray and Seth Rogen. Based on Atul Gawande’s non-fiction book of the same name, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End will mark Aziz Ansari’s first role as a filmmaker. Ansari wrote the script and will also be playing a role in the movie. While Palmer and Ansari have previously worked together as voice actors in the Ice Age franchise, Being Mortal will serve as their first live-action collaboration. Palmer’s role in the new film is still not disclosed as is the case with her fellow co-stars.

The details for the film as well as the synopsis are still being kept under the wrap, but since it will be based on a book, viewers can get a glimpse of what to expect. The book explores the concepts of death and aging and how the medical profession tends to mishandle both. Searchlight has previously described the project as being at the intersection of “insightful humor and pathos.”

The film is being produced by Youree Henrey, and Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey are overseeing for Searchlight. As stated by The Hollywood Reporter, production is expected to begin later this month. Searchlight has incredibly high hopes for the new movie as the company is aiming to release the movie theatrically sometime in 2023. At a time when the Disney-owned company has pushed most of its features onto streaming services like Hulu instead of the traditional way in the theaters, this is a big move for the movie. It looks like the company is hoping that the Comedian-turned-Filmmaker’s feature debut might prove to be a critical and commercial smash, with potentially having some award talk attached to it.


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Keke Palmer took to Instagram to share her excitement and noted her 20th year in the industry

Following her breakout starring role in 2006’s indie darling, Akeelah and the Bee, Palmer has made a distinguished career for herself in Hollywood as a film-TV actress, singer, producer, and television personality. She was best known for her playing the titular role in Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP and later appeared with a star-studded cast including Ariana Grande, Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billie Lourd in Scream Queens.

She also appeared in Berlin Station, and talk shows like Just Keke and Strahan, Sara, and Keke, the latter for which she was Emmy-nominated. Last year, Palmer won an Emmy for her performance in Turnt Up with the Taylors. As a film actress, Palmer appeared in Hustlers with Jennifer Lopez, Joyful Noise, The Longshots, and Madea’s Family Reunion, and she starred in this year’s Alice, which she also executive produced. Most recently, Palmer was a voice actor on Netflix’s Big Mouth in a supporting role and was seen in the last season of Insecure. Next, she’ll be seen in Jordan Peele’s Nope releasing on July 22nd, and she’ll be heard in Pixar’s Lightyear on June 17th.


Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End will be released in 2023. Stay tuned for more news on the upcoming feature.

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