With HBO’s Succession now wrapping up and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty in its off-season, Adam McKay finally has the time to pursue a passion project that’s been in the works for some time with Average Height, Average Build.
Written and to be directed by the same Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind everything from Anchorman, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys to the career-pivoting adaptation of Michael Lewis’ The Big Short, McKay’s first feature-length effort since Netflix’s Don’t Look Up has enlisted two beloved names in Robert Downey Jr and Robert Pattinson.
According to The Hollywood Reporter:
“The project is being described as part serial killer thriller, part comedy, following a killer who uses political lobbyists to change laws in order to make it easier for him to kill… Like all of McKay’s recent work, the project will tackle larger sociopolitical ills — à la the 2008 housing crisis (The Big Short) and climate crisis (Don’t Look Up) — this time taking on crime and corruption.”
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Deadline has since clarified that Pattinson will portray the role of the serial killer, with Downey Jr as a “retired cop who won’t give up on the murders,” and Amy Adams appearing as said political lobbyist
Aside from Robert Downey Jr, Robert Pattinson, and Amy Adams, the A-list ensemble bringing this one to life also includes Forest Whitaker, and Danielle Deadwyler, with “many more characters to be filled in.”
Initially, it was uncertain where Average Height, Average Build would ultimately end up despite the “high-wattage cast” and “McKay’s enviable track record.” Several studios had reportedly passed on the forthcoming satirical flick due to a high degree of risk aversion (“financial, thematic or otherwise”).
But as of this week, you’ll be happy to hear the whole package has been acquired by Netflix, marking the streamer’s second major collaboration with McKay after Don’t Look Up.
“The star-studded pic is Netflix’s second most popular film of all time globally with nearly 360 million hours viewed in the first 28 days after its release,” explains Justin Kroll of Deadline.
“It reached #1 in 92 countries. Don’t Look Up received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won Best Original Screenplay at the Writers Guild of America Awards.:
Adam McKay reportedly plans to begin rolling cameras mid-this year (“late summer”) on location in Boston. Winning Time cinematographer Todd Banhazl has also signed on. Keep an eye out for updates on Average Height, Average Build here.
