Vice Director Adam McKay Is Making A Jennifer Lawrence Comedy For Netflix

Netflix has won the rights to a new movie from The Big Short director Adam McKay, which will star Jennifer Lawrence as an astronomer who must inform the world about an asteroid that will kill everyone on earth. The movie has an excellent and appropriate title: Don't Look Up.

"Don't Look Up tells the story of two low-level astronomers, who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching asteroid that will destroy planet earth," reads a line from Netflix's description.

It's unclear who will play the role of the other astronomer.

McKay wrote the script for Don't Look Up, and he'll also direct and produce the movie through his Hyperobject Industries banner.

McKay directed the Will Ferrell comedies Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, The Other Guys, and Anchorman 2. He later moved to more serious fare, including The Big Short, which told the story of the 2008 financial crisis in the United States. He also directed 2018's Vice, which stars Christian Bale as controversial US vice president Dick Cheney.

McKay won an Oscar for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for The Big Short, while Vice was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

As for Jennifer Lawrence, she won an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, which is her first Academy Award win among her four total nominations. She has more recently favored dramatic films, so this is a return to comedy for the actress.

Filming on Don't Look Up will begin in April, and the movie is expected to debut on the streaming service later in 2020.