Two of the hottest tickets in Hollywood, Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus, American Pie) and Brian Cox (Succession), are about to be joined by Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, Hook) and Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II, Bring It On) for the crime comedy Riff Raff. Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting) directs from a script by John Pollono (Stronger).
The star-studded project revolves around the ordinary life of a former criminal whose world turns upside down when his old family shows up for a long-awaited reckoning. With cameras ready to roll in September, Riff Raff heads to the Cannes market this week for international sales, with Capstone organizing domestic rights with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent. Noah Rothman produces through Canopy Partners, with Marc Goldberg and Sarah Gabriel producing via Signature Films.
“We are thrilled to partner with the producers and Dito on this project; we’ve loved it ever since we’ve read it. It embodies the type of crime comedies we grew up with – witty and entertaining. Not to mention the perfect cast that will bring these colorful characters to life,” said Goldberg.
When Goldberg says, “the type of crime comedies we grew up with,” which films do you think he refers to? Is Riff Raff a send-up to movies like Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, A Fish Called Wanda, Disorganized Crime, Cookie, or Who’s Harry Crumb? With an ensemble cast including Coolidge, Cox, Hoffman, and Union, anything can happen.
Coolidge and Cox are both Emmy Award winners, with Coolidge taking home the prize for her unforgettable performance in Mike White’s The White Lotus. Hoffman’s got multiple Oscars, including the Best Actor trophy for 1980’s Kramer vs Kramer and 1989’s Rain Man. Gabrielle Union is a BET Awards winner and multiple nods at other film and television celebrations.
What are your predictions for Riff Raff‘s tone? Which are your favorite crime comedies of the ’80s and ’90s? Mine include Fargo, Demolition Man, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Trapped in Paradise, Heathers, The Naked Gun, and My Cousin Vinny. Feel free to let us know in the comments below.