Judd Apatow to Direct Glen Powell in New Comedy for Universal

Last year, a Puck report tackled Judd Apatow’s difficulties in getting some of his passion projects greenlit by any of the major studios. Apatow’s last scripted feature was the $50 million Netflix bust, “The Bubble.” He’s done some documentary work on the side, but what he’s really itching for is a return in the directing game.

That opportunity has arrived. According to Deadline, Glen Powell will star in a new original comedy film directed by Apatow. They will write the script together. The comedy follows a country western star in free fall. Universal is behind the movie.

There he is again, Glen Powell. Hollywood’s hottest actor, seemingly rescuing Apatow’s directing career by attaching himself to this project. What could go wrong?

In the aughts, no one ruled comedy quite like Apatow. His reach influenced the comedic landscape, from producing “Superbad, “Pineapple Express” and “Bridesmaids” to HBO’s landmark series, “Girls.” He was untouchable.

Apatow even turned out to be a more-than-decent director, helming these smartly clever, adult-oriented gut-busters, such as “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.”

However, this current decade, Apatow has not had the kind of reach and influence he once did. His brand of male-dominated, bro-ish, comedy style hasn’t aged well in the #MeToo era. The result is that his last few directorial efforts, very safe and mundane works, haven’t been that stellar, and it all came crashing down with 2022’s misbegotten “The Bubble.”

Last fall, Apatow was shopping around an R-rated comedy script that he planned to direct. Zach Galafanakis was set to star as a “quasi-canceled” comedian. The pitch failed, nobody wanted to bite, and that led to Galafanakis leaving the project and Apatow shelving the entire thing.

Studios also passed on another R-rated Apatow comedy; this one was going to star stand-up legend Katt Williams. It was set up as Williams’ breakthrough movie role as an aging comedian. Last year, Apatow told The Playlist that he had written a new script, was shopping it around, and wanted it to be his next directing feature, that is, in his own words, “if they would allow me to make it.”

Apatow is said to have a multi-year deal with Universal. He recently produced the 2022 comedy “Bros” for them; it bombed at the box-office. Meanwhile, he’s also backing Keith and Kenneth Lucas’ semi-autobiographical comedy, which is still in development at the studio.