Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson isn’t shy about playing up his youth and immaturity for laughs. Now he’s going to try and use those same Peter Pan-like qualities for something very different. He’s starring in director Judd Apatow’s next film, The King of Staten Island, which is about a young man who refuses to grow up. And although it’s a comedy, it has everything to do with grief. Davidson co-wrote the screenplay, basing the character and story on his own life. And the movie’s first trailer make clears it’s going to let us see a very different side of the comedian.
Pete Davidson’s character is a Staten Island-born-and-raised 20-something who, per the film’s press materials, “has been in a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven.” Things change for Scott when his mother, played by Marisa Tomei, starts dating a “loudmouth firefighter” played by Bill Burr.
This “sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life.” In real life, Davidson’s father was a firefighter who died on September 11. Obviously this movie and his performance will be very personal, which is why it has a chance to be so good.
Universal Pictures
Also starring are Steve Buscemi as Papa, “a veteran firefighter who takes Scott under his wing,” Maude Apatow as Davidson’s sister, Pamela Adlon as Bill Burr’s character’s ex-wife Gina, Bel Powley as Davidson’s friend and love interest Kelsey, and Oscar Velez, Moises Arias, and Lou Wilson as Davidson’s friends. That’s one very mature cast full of seasoned veterans. But it’s the work of film’s young star we can’t wait to see.
Because of COVID-19, The King of Staten Island will bypass theaters. It comes to video on demand on June 12.
Featured Image: Universal Pictures