Josh Duhamel has officially signed to star opposite Jennifer Lopez in Lionsgate’s Shotgun Wedding, the studio announced today. The studio also announced that Sonia Braga will play Lopez’s character’s mother, with Jennifer Coolidge playing Duhamel’s character’s mom. The announcement was made by Erin Westerman, president of production for the Lionsgate Motion Pictures Group.
“We couldn’t be happier for our bride and groom of this Shotgun Wedding,” said Westerman, confirming the casting of Duhamel. “We know Josh and Jennifer will make a compelling and sexy on-screen couple and they will be fun sparring partners as their dream destination wedding erupts into a memorable nightmare. We are also thrilled to bring Jennifer and Sonia on to our cast as Mothers of the Bride and Groom. Their acting and comedic talents will add another fun layer to this already-rich action-comedy.”
Jason Moore will direct Shotgun Wedding from a screenplay by Mark Hammer and Liz Meriwether. The film will be produced by Mandeville’s Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman, who produced Lionsgate’s hit film Wonder; the team is also producing the comedy Under Cover, Rabbids, and the Wonder companion White Bird: A Wonder Story for Lionsgate. They will be joined as producers by Nuyorican Productions’ Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina. Production begins next month in The Dominican Republic.
Alex Young is overseeing the production and executive producing for Mandeville Films, and Courtney Baxter for Nuyorican Productions. Ryan Reynolds is also executive producing along with George Dewey.
In Shotgun Wedding, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones — if they don’t kill each other first.
James Myers and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the production for Lionsgate. Robert Melnik negotiated the deals on behalf of the studio. Production is expected to begin later this month.
Josh Duhamel will next star in the upcoming Netflix series “Jupiter’s Legacy.” Best known for his work in the blockbuster Transformers franchise, Duhamel recently starred in Love, Simon and the limited series “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious BIG.” His upcoming film roles include Blackout opposite Abbie Cornish and Nick Nolte. He is represented by ICM, John Carrabino, and Hansen Jacobson Teller Hoberman.
Sonia Braga most recently starred in Bacurau, the Independent Spirit Award-nominated Brazilian film from director Kleber Mendonça Filho; Braga reteamed with the director after receiving acclaim for her starring role in Aquarius, a festival hit at Cannes and Toronto. A legend named to the New York Times’ list of the 25 best actors of the 21st century, whose many credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Milagro Beanfield War, the miniseries “Streets of Laredo” and “The Burning Season,” among many others, Braga’s other recent English-language roles include Wonder and “Luke Cage.” She is represented by Untitled and Bond Artist Management.
Jennifer Coolidge recently filmed the HBO limited series “The White Lotus” and can currently be seen in Focus Film’s Promising Young Woman. Recent film credits include the independent feature Swan Song and Paramount’s Like a Boss. She is represented by UTA and Mosaic.
Synopsis :
A couple's extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.
Shotgun wedding
Directed by Jason Moore
Produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina
Written by Mark Hammer, Elizabeth Meriwether
Starring Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Coolidge, Josh Duhamel, Sônia Braga
Production companies : Lionsgate, Mandeville Films, Maximum Effort, Nuyorican Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate
Photos : Copyright Getty Images
(Source : press release)