Last summer,The Lonely Islandtrio ofAndy Samberg,Jorma TacconeandAkiva Schafferreunited to start shooting a secret movie for Universal Pictures. All that was known at the time was that it was set in the music world, withAndy Sambergstarring and co-writing the script with directorsAkiva SchafferandJorma Taccone. Earlier this month, the title was revealed asPopstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and todayUniversal Pictureshas debuted the first red bandtrailer, which does feature nudity and adult language, and shouldn’t be watched by fans under the age of 18.
Universal Pictures’Popstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingis headlined by musical digital-shorts superstarsAndy Samberg,Akiva SchafferandJorma Taccone, collectively known asThe Lonely Island. The comedy goes behind the scenes as singer/rapperConner4Real(Andy Samberg) faces a crisis of popularity after his sophomore album flops, leaving his fans, sycophants and rivals all wondering what to do when he’s no longer the dopest star of all.
The latest comedy from blockbuster producerJudd Apatow(Trainwreck, Superbad,Superbad) co-starsSarah Silverman,Tim MeadowsandMaya Rudolphand many of the biggest names in comedy and music in cameo performances. Co-directed byAkiva SchafferandJorma Tacconeand written byThe Lonely Islandtrio, Popstar is also produced byRodney Rothman(producer ofGet Him to the Greek,Forgetting Sarah Marshall; co-writer of22 Jump Street), as well asAndy Samberg,Akiva SchafferandJorma Taccone.
Universal has set a June 3 release date for this comedy, which will go up against Warner Bros.‘Me Before Youand Paramount’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Taccone, Samberg and Schaffer have been friends since junior high school in Berkeley, California. In 2000, the trio began writing, directing and producing its own brand of comedy and showcasing it onTheLonelyIsland.com. The three writing partners are responsible for creating the popular SNL “Digital Shorts,” which reinvigorated the series and spurred many water-cooler moments over the past decade.
Some of the most notable shorts include their Emmy-winning “D**k in a Box” (withJustin Timberlake), “Lazy Sunday” (a rap aboutThe Chronicles of Narnia) and “TheNatalie PortmanRap,” “YOLO (featuringAdam Levine&Kendrick Lamar),” “I Just Had Sex (featuring Akon)” and “I’m on a Boat (featuringT-Pain).“The Lonely Island’s debut album, “Incredibad,” was released by Universal Republic in February 2009 and is the first comedy album to reach No. 1 on iTunes. Take a look at the red band trailer, poster and photos below, and stay tuned for more onPopstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
