‘The Big Sick’ Duo Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon Have Written Script for New Romantic Comedy Film

The writers behind 2017’s “The Big Sick,” Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, told Variety that they have finished writing the script for a new romantic comedy they hope to start producing and developing, with Nanjiani also confirming his plans to star in the new film.

While speaking with Marc Malkin for Variety On the Carpet presented by DIRECTV, the duo confirmed they were working on a new project together: “We’ve written a movie,” Nanjiani said, which Gordon then elaborated on, “We wrote a script that we’re looking to make.”

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Though the two kept details about the film’s plot hidden, Nanjiani did confirm that the film is a “comedy, romance, drama” that will follow “another relationship” that is “not as personal” as “The Big Sick.”

“It’s not as nakedly auto-biographical,” Nanjiani said. Later, he joked that it is about someone who “should go to therapy.”

With a script now finished, the duo is actively looking for a production company to come aboard and begin development. The pair co-wrote the script, which Gordon will produce.

Married in real life, Nanjiani and Gordon worked together on 2017’s “The Big Sick,” which follows the pair’s real-life love story. Kumail, a stand-up comedian, falls for Emily. Their relationship, however, faces challenges when she falls critically ill, which adds further tension to a relationship already complicated through the pair’s cultural differences and family dynamics. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay and won the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for best comedy.

Nanjiani is nominated for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for his performance as Somen “Steve” Banerjee “Welcome to Chippendales.” Coming up, he stars in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” and in James L. Brooks’ anticipated directorial return, a film about an idealistic, young politician.

Watch Nanjiani and Gordon’s full red carpet-interview above.

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