Josh Gad will headline the comedy Heavy Duty, based on his own original idea
Paramount Pictures today announced that Josh Gad (Frozen, The Wedding Ringer) will headline the comedy Heavy Duty, based on an original idea by the star. Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (1600 Penn, Super Fun Night) are set to provide the Heavy Duty screenplay.
Heavy Duty tells the story of an ordinary guy who believes losing weight will help him live a more extraordinary life. He signs up for a wellness retreat with a group of fellow underachievers, only to face an unexpected test when things go awry.
Disruption Entertainment’s Mary Parent and Cale Boyter will produce with Gad. Drew Pearce (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3) will executive produce.
Gad’s upcoming projects include Sony’s animated film Angry Birds and Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast. The former hits theaters May 20 and the latter will be on the big screen March 17, 2017.
Gad is also attached to star opposite Will Ferrell in Russ & Roger and opposite Chadwick Boseman in the indie film Marshall, about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Gad was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as Elder Cunningham in the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon. It was also announced earlier today that Gad will be returning as the voice of Olaf (alongside Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel) in an upcoming Frozen Holiday Special that will air on ABC in 2017.
Gad is represented by WME Entertainment, Lighthouse Management & Media, and Ziffren Brittenham. Hernandez and Samit are represented by UTA, 3 Arts and Jackoway Tyerman.
Does Heavy Duty sound like something you’d like to check out? Let us know in the comments below!
(Photo credit: Abel Fermin / WENN.com)
