Judd Apatow sets first major feature film with Netflix

Judd Apatow has a pandemic comedy planned for Netflix in his first feature for the streamer

Sometimes life imitating art imitating life is a good thing, and as the pandemic rolls on more and more television shows and movies are incorporating pandemic life into their productions. Such is the case for a new comedy from Judd Apatow, whose first feature film for Netflix is art imitating life imitating art…and so forth and so on.

Sources tell Deadline that this new project – as yet unnamed – will be directed and produced by Apatow, who will work on the script with Pam Brady. The film is set in a hotel and features a group of actors trying to navigate the complexities of filming in a COVID-19 bubble while also trying to live together.

Naturally, this comedy will hit close to home for many people who have tried to work in the middle of the pandemic, often being forced to quarantine with colleagues for any number of reasons. The upside, of course, is that a pandemic bubble would be required for filming anyway, so making this movie come to life will be easy.

The movie is in very early stages, but Netflix has put it on the fast track so expect to learn casting details quickly. In fact, everything should happen quickly with this new project because early buzz puts this movie in line with hits like Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, and given how many people are at home consuming new content during the pandemic a big hit like Knives Out would be huge for Netflix.

Apatow comes with a long illustrious pedigree including hits like Knocked Up, and this new comedy marks the first time he’s not working with Universal. Many creators have left studios in favor of streaming deals where they have greater autonomy, and this new project could mark the start of a beautiful relationship for Apatow and Netflix.