Keke Palmer and SZA to Star in Untitled Buddy Comedy Produced by Issa Rae

Keke Palmer and SZA are set to star in an untitled buddy comedy movie from TriStar Pictures, produced by Issa Rae and directed by Lawrence Lamont. The screenplay is written by Syreeta Singleton, who was the showrunner for Rae's series 'Rap Sh*t'.

The project came together from the CoCre lab at Sony Pictures, which was a pact between ColorCreative and Columbia Pictures to source and nurture emerging diverse screenwriters. This will mark SZA's acting debut, and the opportunity to reunite with Palmer, who has starred in over 25 films and 30 TV shows, was too good to pass up. The two previously appeared together in the promos for SZA's 'SNL' appearance in December 2022.

Why this matters: The collaboration between Keke Palmer, SZA, and Issa Rae on this untitled buddy comedy represents a meaningful advancement in promoting diverse talent and stories in Hollywood. The project's origin from the CoCre lab at Sony Pictures highlights the industry's efforts to encourage and support emerging diverse screenwriters.

Lamont has directed music videos for various big-name artists, and Singleton is co-producing the film along with Rae, Sara Diya Rastogi, Deniese Davis, and Charles D. King. Palmer and SZA are both highly accomplished in their respective fields, with Palmer being an Emmy-winning actress and SZA a four-time Grammy-winning recording artist.

The film is being co-financed and produced by MACRO Film Studios. Rae will produce the new film alongside Sara Diya Rastogi through her production company Hoorae, which is overseeing all of Rae's film, television, music, and events projects. "The film is expected to be a significant collaboration between these talented artists and filmmakers," said a source close to the project.

Key Takeaways

• Keke Palmer and SZA to star in buddy comedy film from TriStar Pictures.
• Issa Rae producing, Lawrence Lamont directing, Syreeta Singleton writing.
• Project originated from CoCre lab at Sony to support diverse screenwriters.
• Marks SZA's acting debut, reunites her with Palmer's extensive acting experience.
• Film co-financed and produced by MACRO Film Studios, Rae's Hoorae company.