Alan Ritchson & Kevin James To Lead Action-Comedy ‘Playdate’, Filming To Begin March 11 In Canada

Kevin James (The King of Queens) and Alan Ritchson (Reacher) have been set to lead action-comedy Playdate, which will be directed by Luke Greenfield (The Girl Next Door) from a script written by Neil Goldman (Shrinking).

The film follows a down-on-his luck man, Brian (James), who was just fired from his job and becomes an unexpected stay-at-home dad to his 10-year-old son. On his first day, he accepts a playdate invitation from Jeff (Ritchson), another stay-at-home dad, who turns out to be an unexpected loose cannon. The two fathers and their sons spend the day on the run, facing a deadly conspiracy.

Greenfield’s WideAwake Pictures’ and Jason Benoit will produce with Mark Fasano of Nickel City Pictures, Jeffrey Greenstein of A Higher Standard and Sean Patrick O’Reilly.

Executive producers are James, Jeff Sussman, Ritchson, Goldman, Dan Spilo of Industry Entertainment, Matthew Alex Goldberg of Nickel City, Michelle Myers of Arcana Studios and Josh Harris, and Ford Corbett & Nathan Klingher of Gramercy Park Media.

The project marks the debut film on the slate of new international sales and production company A Higher Standard, run by former Millennium exec Jeffrey Greenstein. The project was on sale at the recent EFM in Berlin.

Ritchson is currently in production on the third season of hit Amazon show Reacher and he has a first-look film deal and a separate three-picture deal for acting with the studio. He will next star opposite Hilary Swank in drama Ordinary Angels, set to open wide February 23rd, and Guy Ritchie World War II film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. He will reprise his role as Aimes in the untitled 11th installment of the Fast and Furious franchise.

James is best known for his roles in CBS’ The King of Queens with Leah Remini and Jerry Stiller, Columbia Pictures’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and Here Comes the Boom with Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler.

“I couldn’t be more excited to see such an incredible team come together for Playdate. Alan and Kevin are such a great duo and their chemistry in such a short time is something you can only hope for. Luke has proved time and time again to deliver high-concept comedies that are grounded yet relatable. I can’t remember the last time we had such a great, laugh-out-loud comedy, and I know Playdate will deliver,” said Fasano.

“Playdate has everything audiences crave- a witty script, a passionate and brilliant director, and our talented cast. Finding the right actor for the right role is crucial to the DNA of any project and in this case, Alan and Kevin are so creatively perfect – individually and together – that they will bring life to the characters in fun ways,” added Greenstein.

“Midnight Run has always been one of my favorite films and this is a great opportunity to reach for that magic. Neil has written an action-comedy that’s all about grounded, relatable characters and their relationships, and that’s the type of film we’re all dying to see again. And this duo of Alan & Kevin is going to capture that magic. This film came together so perfectly because of Mark, Jeffrey and Dan, and that’s a beautiful, rare thing these days,” commented Greenfield.

Ritchson is represented by WME, Dan Spilo of Industry Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. James is repped by UTA, Jeff Sussman Management, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.