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Paramount Pictures is moving quickly on INSTANT FAMILY, the next comedy from Daddy’s Home 2 helmer Sean Anders, which he co-wrote with John Morris. Mark Wahlberg signed on in September, and he’s going to be joined by Rose Byrne, who has just signed on to the project.
Byrne and Wahlberg will play a couple who decide to adopt a few kids through the foster care system and end up having to contend with three completely wild kids.
Instant Family will be produced by Anders, Morris, Wahlberg and Steve Levinson with plans to start shooting next year.
It’s no surprise that Paramount is moving quickly on a follow-up to the Daddy’s Home sequel, because it surprised many this past weekend by opening with close to $30 million. Although that’s less than the earlier movie’s $38 million opening in 2015, the original movie had the benefits of the Christmas holiday to bring in such a large audience of moviegoers.
Repped by CAA, the Australian-born Byrne has been laying low this year, appearing in HBO’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Louis CK’s I Love You, Daddy — the latter which may never see the light of day due to CK’s sexual misconduct allegations. She’ll appear in more wholesome fare in 2017 with a role in the family film Peter Rabbit and starring in the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s Juliet, Naked.
Going by the success of Daddy’s Home and its sequel, this might be a good time for Wahlberg to continue his foray into comedy, and Byrne already has her comic chops down due to roles in Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids and Spy, as well as Seth Rogen’s Neighbors and its sequel.
Byrne’s attachment to Instant Family was previously reported by Deadline.
Edward Douglas | East Coast Editor
