'American Reunion' Filmmakers Sign First-Look Deal with Universal
The film's writing-directing team of Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg will continue to make "laugh-your-ass-off comedies" for the studio.
Giving its upcoming comedy American Reunion a big vote of confidence, Universal has signed the movie’s writing-directing team of Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg to a two-year first-look deal.
The duo’s Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions will be based on the lot and aim to make comedies. Their former assistant, Joseph Amaral, has been promoted to creative executive.
“When we first became friends in high school, we shared a dream of making movies -- specifically, laugh-your-ass-off comedies,†the duo said in a statement. “At Universal, we feel we have found the perfect place to continue turning our dreams into reality.â€
Hurwitz and Schlossberg created and wrote the Harold & Kumar comedy series, writing the first movie, 2004’s Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and taking up the directing mantle with the second, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo (2008). They wrote and co-produced the latest entry, last year's A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.
“We entrusted Jon and Hayden with one of Universal’s most valuable franchises, and we are thrilled with the result, which has been getting a tremendous response from early audience screenings,†Universal Pictures’ co-presidents of production, Peter Cramer and Jeff Kirschenbaum, said in a statement. “They really know how to make crowd-pleasing comedies, and we are excited to expand our relationship with them on other projects they create.â€
