Coming off the success of his new movie “Night School,” which became the No. 1 comedy at the box office since last year’s “Girls Trip,” Kevin Hart is ready to show his more dramatic side.
STXFilms, on Wednesday, released the first trailer for dramedy “The Upside,” in which Hart plays an unemployed, down-on-his-luck man with a criminal record who goes to work as a caretaker for a wealthy paraplegic (Bryan Cranston).
The trailer for “The Upside” teases a tender and deep relationship between the unlikely pair, which is sure to pull at audiences’ heartstrings. Hart will offer some levity and comedy as well.
STXFilms Chairman Adam Fogelson said in announcing the studio had acquired the film, that: “This is a hilariously funny and emotionally affecting film. It evokes elements of films like ‘Trading Places’ and ‘Scent of a Woman.'”
The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies and Aja Naomi King.
“The Upside” is a remake of the adored 2011 French film “The Intouchables,” starring François Cluzet and Omar Sy. That version grossed $416 million overseas and surprised some award watchers when it failed to make the shortlist for foreign-language Oscar recognition. “The Upside,” which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, did stoke some awards talk of its own before being stained by The Weinstein Co. name.
The film was among the prized unreleased films The Weinstein Co. still owned when the company filed for bankruptcy in March, following a multitude of sexual misconduct accusations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. “The Upside” was turned over to Lantern Entertainment when the company bought TWC out of bankruptcy in May.
Lantern partnered with STX Entertainment to distribute the film, which is set to hit theaters on Jan. 11 — not in time for recognition in the 91st Oscars airing next February.
“The Upside” is an Escape Artists production. Producers are Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black and Steve Tisch.
11 Film and TV Projects Left in Limbo From Weinstein Company Bankruptcy (Photos)
The bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company leaves a number of interesting projects across film and TV in limbo, some awaiting release and others still in development. What will be their fate?
"The Current War"
After making its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Thomas Edison biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch was originally scheduled for an awards-friendly December 2017 release before getting pushed.
Toronto International Film Festival
"The War With Grandpa"
Starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman and Oakes Fegley, The Weinstein Company unloaded the completed family film to its producers Marro Media Co. for $2.5 million.
Amazon
"The Six Billion Dollar Man"
Mark Wahlberg was set to star in a remake of the '70s TV series starring Lee Majors. The rights to the project directed by Damián Szifron was sold to Warner Bros. for $7.2 million.
Getty Images
"Mary Magdalene"
This Biblical drama directed by "Lion's" Garth Brooks and starring Rooney Mara as Mary Magdalene and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus Christ was just released on March 16 in the U.K. by Focus Features.
Focus Features
"The Upside"
"The Upside" is a remake of the French drama "The Intouchables" and stars Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart. It made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was originally scheduled to be released in March.
The Weinstein Company
Untitled David O. Russell Project
Amazon cut ties with The Weinstein Company back in October and canceled a planned series from David O. Russell that was set to star Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore.
"Polaroid"
“Polaroid,” a low-budget horror film from Bob Weinstein’s Dimension Films genre division, is listed in court filings among The Weinstein Company's assets, but it isn't listed as an “unreleased picture.”
Dimension Films
"Fahrenheit 11/9"
Michael Moore's follow up to "Fahrenheit 9/11" concerns the 2016 election of Donald Trump. TWC, which had previously distributed "Fahrenheit 9/11," acquired it in May. The project is still in production.
Getty Images
"Hotel Mumbai"
"Hotel Mumbai" is a thriller starring Armie Hammer and Dev Patel based on a 2009 documentary, "Surviving Mumbai" about the deadly terror attack on the Indian city. The Weinstein Company acquired it in May of 2016.
The Weinstein Company
"Project Runway"
Lifetime sources tell TheWrap that shooting a new season of "Project Runway" is currently up in the air because of TWC's financial and PR problems. Further, Weinstein's estranged wife Georgina Chapman is a judge on a current and upcoming season of "Project Runway: All Stars," both of which were shot prior to the sexual assault allegations becoming public.
Lifetime
"Scream"
The Weinstein Company has a credit on the MTV adaptation of the horror franchise "Scream," with a third, unaired season already completed. It's been over a year since the show aired, and the new season does not have an air date.
MTV
1 of 12
”The Current War,“ ”Hotel Mumbai“ and ”The Upside“ are among TWC’s unreleased work
The bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company leaves a number of interesting projects across film and TV in limbo, some awaiting release and others still in development. What will be their fate?