EXCLUSIVE: We can tell you that Cameron Diaz and Stephen Merchant are starring in an upcoming Amazon MGM Studios untitled romantic comedy movie which Merchant will direct off a screenplay he co-wrote with John Butler.
The film follows a workaholic Brit employed at an upscale New York hotel (Merchant) who needs a wife for appearances. He strikes a deal with a struggling stand-up comic (Diaz) who is desperate for health insurance. Their fake marriage starts as a transaction – but ends in a hilariously unexpected romance.
Butler wrote and directed Handsome Devil starring Andrew Scott, Papi Chulo starring Matt Bomer, and most recently six part television series These Sacred Vows starring Jason O’Mara. He also wrote on and directed The Outlaws with Merchant. Butler is represented by Jessica Sykes at Independent Talent Group.
Producers include Lee Eisenberg, Merchant, and Point Grey Pictures’ Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, and Josh Fagen. Natalie Sandy will EP.
Point Grey and Amazon MGM Studios previously teamed on the hit series franchise The Boys, Gen V, and Invincible.
Eisenberg and Amazon MGM Studios previously collaborated on the hit series, Jury Duty, which premiered in April 2023 and was nominated for four Emmys. Eisenberg is a Writers Guild Award winner, Peabody Award winner, BAFTA nominee, and eight-time Emmy nominee. Eisenberg worked on the NBC comedy series The Office for five seasons, rising to co-head writer. Following this run, Eisenberg executive produced the Golden-Globe Nominated series, Smilf, and the Emmy-nominated series, Hello Ladies. On the movie side, he wrote and produced the Diaz comedy Bad Teacher and made his feature directorial debut with his original screenplay, Good Boys, one of the highest-grossing R-rated comedies of the past decade. Eisenberg also created the BAFTA-nominated Little America and the limited series, WeCrashed. Most recently, he created the Golden-Globe nominated limited series, Lessons in Chemistry, which was nominated for ten Emmys.
Diaz, the star of The Mask, My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, Charlie’s Angels, Shrek and Back in Action has been nominated for numerous Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA Awards for her performances in such movies as Being John Malkovich, Vanilla Sky and Gangs of New York. She also penned such New York Times bestsellers as The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body and The Longevity Book: The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength, and the Privilege of Time. Next up, she stars opposite Keanu Reeves and Matt Bomer in the dark comedy, Outcome, directed and co-written by Jonah Hill for Apple Original Films, Netflix’s Bad Day and DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5, which will be released in 2027. The actress is repped by LBI Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman etc.
Merchant is an Emmy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe-winning director, actor, comedian, writer, and producer whose credits span film and television. He created, wrote, directed, and starred in the BAFTA-nominated series The Outlaws (BBC/Amazon) and recently appeared in Netflix’s Goodbye June and AMC’s The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Merchant wrote and directed MGM/Film4’s Fighting With My Family which starred Dwayne Johnson and Florence Pugh and co-created and starred in the Emmy-nominated HBO series Hello Ladies. His acting credits includes Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit, Logan, The Girl in the Spider’s Web and a critically acclaimed performance in BBC’s Four Lives. He created, wrote and directed The Office, Extras and Life’s Too Short with Ricky Gervais, along with co-writing and directing the movie Cemetery Junction. He co-produced An Idiot Abroad and executive produced the US version of The Office. Additional appearances include The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Good Place, The Simpsons, Hot Fuzz, Table 19, I Give It a Year and Hall Pass. Stephen Merchant is represented by United Agents, WME, and Davis Law Group