He was once a household name synonymous with cliched but hilarious heart warmers for all ages, but the years following saw a large drop-off for Adam Sander’s career, making films heavily criticized by both critics and audiences. Recent times have seen a slight uptick from Sandler thanks to the Hotel Transylvania franchise and Netflix dramedy The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected).
Sandler looks to continue this foray into more independently-praised features with the upcoming Uncut Gems from writer/directors Josh & Benny Safdie, as well as co-writer Ronald Bronstein, through studio A24, according to Deadline. The company, founded in 2012, has been the driving force behind many of the biggest independent movies in the past few years, including Ex Machina, Room and Lady Bird.
The Safdies have become increasingly popular in the independent scene since their debut in 2008 with The Pleasure of Being Robbed, leading up to their most recent crime drama Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson as a bank robber on the run with his developmentally-disabled brother, who was played by Benny. The film earned rave reviews from critics for Pattinson’s performance and the visual styling of the Safdies’ direction.
Though the plot details are currently under wraps for Uncut Gems, it was previously announced that it will be a thriller set in the Diamond District in New York City, inspired by their father’s time working in the district. Sandler joins Jonah Hill, who was announced to star last May, in the film, which will also be executive produced by Martin Scorsese.
Sandler is currently finishing his fourth and final film in his multi-pic Netflix deal, The Week Of, in which his and co-star Chris Rock’s characters’ children are getting married and it covers the week leading up to them. It was also recently announced Sandler will reunite with Just Go With It co-star Jennifer Aniston for the upcoming Netflix comedy Murder Mystery, which will be directed by Workaholics co-creator Kyle Newacheck.
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