It’s a whodunit with a whole lot of drama. Jennifer Lawrence will get to feud, day-drink and access oodles of disposable income, at least until a body turns up, in “The Wives,” a murder mystery that is in the vein of “The Real Housewives.”
Apple Original Films acquired the project in what it is describing as a “highly competitive situation.” Lawrence will produce the film alongside Justine Ciarrocchi for her company, Excellent Cadaver. Tony and Independent Spirit Award nominee Jeremy O. Harris (“Zola,” “Slave Play”) and Josh Godfrey will also produce the picture under their bb2 banner. It is currently in development, so no word on the final plot or when it might shoot.
“The Wives” will be written by Michael Breslin and Patrick Foley, the writers of the play “Circle Jerk,” which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. The film is co-produced by Apple Studios and A24, which previously worked together on “Causeway,” a 2022 drama that starred Lawrence.
The two companies are also partnering on “High and Low,” Spike Lee’s upcoming remake of the Akira Kurosawa film that is set to star Denzel Washington.” Previous collaborations include “Steve! (Martin) a documentary in 2 pieces,” from Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, as well as “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” which was directed by Joel Coen and starred Washington and Frances McDormand as the murderous monarch and his wife.
Apple’s upcoming slate includes “Fly Me to the Moon,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum; “The Instigators,” starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck for director Doug Liman; and its Formula 1 feature film starring Brad Pitt for director Joseph Kosinski.
Lawrence starred in the R-rated comedy “No Hard Feelings” and appeared opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in “Don’t Look Up.” She also led the cast of “The Hunger Games” (but you know that).
Harris is currently developing new series for FX, HBO, and Legendary. His documentary feature debut “Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play,” was released by HBO.
Excellent Cadaver is repped by LBI and bb² is repped by CAA, 2AM and Andre Des Rochers and Anita Surendran at Granderson Des Rochers. Breslin and Foley are repped by CAA and Shreck Rose Dapello Adam Berlin and Dunham LLP.
