Amy Poehler to play an NBA coach in untitled basketball comedy for Universal

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Amy Poehler is poised to blow up on the big screen. After finishing her critically lauded run on NBC's Parks and Recreation and enjoying regular supporting roles on the big screen, Poehler led the voice cast of Pixar's latest, INSIDE OUT. Now, she is going to take the next big step and headline a studio comedy. Variety reports that Poehler is set to star in an untitled sports comedy for Universal.

The film, which is being scripted by Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen, follows Poehler as a once-promising coach who takes over duties for an NBA team. Typically, comedies like this don't always spell good things for actors (see Martin Lawrence in REBOUND), but Poehler has some great improvisation skills from her time on Saturday Night Live and Upright Citizen's Brigade. It would really depend on who her supporting cast is in the film.

Barinholtz is a funny guy and is next set to appear on screen in SISTERS opposite Poehler and Tina Fey. He has a supporting role in David Ayer's SUICIDE SQUAD and wrote the upcoming Dwayne Johnson/Kevin Hart movie CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE. I would not be surprised if he joined the cast of this comedy as well. The more actors with stand-up and improvisation backgrounds who can get on board this film the better.

Poehler is currently filming THE HOUSE with Will Ferrell and would make this sports comedy her next project. I am not sure what the tone of the movie will be, but seeing as the main character would be a woman coaching a men's basketball team, I am going to put fifty bucks on them titling this BALLS.