EXCLUSIVE: Alex Rich (Genius: Picasso), Colin Ford (We Bought a Zoo), Adam Shapiro (The Bear), Michael Vlamis (The Odyssey), Jonathan Lipnicki (Primetime) and Sofia Masson (Waltzing with Brando) have been unveiled for the cast of romantic comedy Mazel Tough.
Set against the backdrop of modern dating through the lens of the Jewish community, the film follows a young Jewish man’s search for love, identity, and connection during the holiday season at a time when finding the right person has never felt more complicated.
The romantic comedy is the feature directorial debut of Evan Scolnick, who previously took credits on short film Background Action, about a production assistant wrangling extras for a superhero movie and taking inspiration from a stint at Marvel Studios where he worked on films such as Hawkeye.
“I never imagined my debut feature would be a romantic comedy, yet the more I lived with this deeply personal story, the more I realized how timely and globally resonant it is,” said Scolnick.
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“While Mazel Tough is rooted in Jewish culture, it’s ultimately about something we all share: the hope of finding the right person. I’m incredibly grateful to our cast, crew, and producing team for bringing this story to life.”
Scheduled to start rolling in Tulsa, Oklahoma in October, Mazel Tough is produced by Billy Greenfield and Cassidy Lunnen along with Daniel Stuzin, with Scolnick also taking a producer credit.
Adam Harris Engelhard, Stephen Mastrocola, Jonathan Lipnicki, Matthew Helderman, and Luke Morton of Buffalo 8 Productions will serve as Executive Producers. Casting is by Ricki Maslar.
“Since meeting, we’ve been looking for the right Jewish film to champion, and Mazel Tough immediately felt like that opportunity,” said Buffalo 8’s Lipnicki and Engelhard in a joint statement.
“Evan has built a specific, funny, and emotionally accessible story about connection at a time when dating feels more complicated than ever. We’re excited to support Evan in his debut feature and have the utmost confidence in his voice, this cast, and the producing team bringing the film to life.”
Rich is represented by Megan Silverman Management and Buchwald; Ford by Innovative Artists and Greenlight Management; Shapiro by Innovative Artists and Seven Summits Management; Vlamis by CESD Talent and Artists First; Lipnicki by Stagecoach Entertainment; and Masson by Mosaic.
