As The Upside crosses the $50 million mark at the global box office, star Kevin Hart has signed a deal for two comedies with STXfilms.
Hart’s HartBeat Productions will be behind the two features: Black Friday, a body-switching comedy based on a story by Doan La, and an untitled international romantic comedy that will be looking to attach a writer. The actor has an eye to star in both.
STX approached Hart and HartBeat’s president of film John Cheng with pitches, after STXfilms partnered with Lantern Entertainment to distribute The Upside, one of the pics left in limbo during The Weinstein Co.’s bankruptcy proceedings.
“STX came in to make The Upside the success it is; their strategy, execution and collaborative approach are perfectly aligned with HartBeat Productions’ values,” Hart said Wednesday in a statement. “It was an easy ‘yes’ when they pitched us two new ideas to produce together.”
Added Cheng: “When they approached Kevin and me with pitches that we felt we could creatively sink our teeth into, we recognized we were in good hands with an innovative partner that would help us produce two funny and original films with the potential to reach audiences around the world.”
“It’s crystal clear audiences love Kevin and they want to see him in a variety of roles,” said STXfilms chairman Adam Fogelson.
This is the third project announcement for Hart in the past week. He has signed on to Lionsgate’s long-delayed Monopoly movie and will also star in the Sony family drama Fatherhood.
Hart is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and Schreck Rose.
