As he did with 2010’s Valentine’s Day and 2011’s New Year’s Eve, director Garry Marshall is assembling Hollywood talent for another ensemble feature based around a holiday. Deadline reports that Julia Roberts will join Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis and Kate Hudson for Mother’s Day. Scripted by Anya Kochoff-Romano and Lily Hollander, Mother’s Day will, like Marshall’s previous holiday ensembles, offer interconnected stories tied to the central holiday theme.
Although Valentine’s Day took in $216 million at the worldwide box office, New Year’s Eve saw some falloff the following year, winding up with $142 million. Although both of those films were released through New Line, Mother’s Day is currently seeking a buyer.
Sudeikis and Aniston have already worked together a few times in comedies like We’re The Millers and both Horrible Bosses films. Mother’s Day will also offer a reteaming between Marshall and Roberts. The Academy Award-winning actress famously headlined Marshall’s Pretty Woman in 1990 and reteamed with both the director and co-star Richard Gere for 1999’s Runaway Bride.
Producing Mother’s Day are Kevin Frakes, Mike Karz and Wayne Rice. Frakes’ PalmStar Media is financing with their Ankur Rungta set to executive produce.
Mother’s Day is looking to begin production this August and will almost certainly see release around the title holiday in 2016. It’s quite likely that the comedy drama will wind up serving as counter programming to Marvel Studios’ sure-to-be-massive “Phase Three” launcher, Captain America: Civil War.
