A New Comedy in the Works
Hollywood is set to see a fresh and exciting collaboration that promises to bring some laughter to the big screen. Pamela Anderson and Debbie Harry are joining forces for a new comedy titled Maitreya. This will be Anderson’s second consecutive comedy project, following her successful role in The Naked Gun, which also featured Liam Neeson in the lead. The film is expected to debut at the Cannes market.
The story revolves around Maitreya, played by Anderson, who is a rising star in the New Age Healing community. She is about to attend a conference in India when her estranged sister Monica calls to inform her that their father is dying. Instead of staying home with him, Maitreya decides to test her New Age healing theories by bringing her entire family, including her mother Barbara (played by Debbie Harry), to the conference. Her ulterior motive is to secretly gather material for her upcoming book.
Producer and Caviar Managing Director Michael Sagol expressed his excitement about working with Jon and Sam to bring Maitreya to life. He mentioned that it has already been a lot of fun, and they are thrilled to have the opportunity to create Jon’s debut feature film. This film is a poetic examination of a dysfunctional family that perfectly suits his absurdist and unique humorous perspective.
Anderson’s career has seen a significant comeback after being nominated for SAG and Golden Globes for Gia Coppola’s Cannes film The Last Showgirl. She has several upcoming projects, including Karim Aïnouz’s Rosebush Pruning with Riley Keough, Callum Turner, Elle Fanning, and Jamie Bell; Somedays with Billy Bob Thornton; Kornel Mondruczo’s Place To Be with Taika Waititi; and Michael Cera’s directorial debut with Steve Coogan and Jamie Dornan.
In addition to casting Pamela Anderson and Debbie Harry, the production team has assembled a stellar crew to bring this unusual family story to the big screen.
A Capable Crew for a Wacky Family Drama
BAFTA nominee Samuel D. Hunter, known for The Whale, wrote the screenplay for Maitreya. The film will be directed by Emmy-nominated Jonathan Krisel, who previously worked on Portlandia. On the production side, Bert Hamelinck, Michael Sagol, Allison Hironaka, and Danica Radovanov from Caviar are involved. Caviar is also responsible for producing Sound of Metal.
Fortitude International, led by Nadine de Barros, is handling international sales at Cannes. UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are managing North America distribution. The film featuring the iconic duo is scheduled to start filming towards the end of 2026.
Debbie Harry, the frontwoman of Blondie, an iconic new wave band from the 1970s and a Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame member, is well-known for her roles in films such as John Waters’ Hairspray and David Cronenberg’s Videodrome. This project offers a different kind of experience for the legendary singer, who is collaborating with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson.
What are your expectations for this new duo? Share your thoughts.
