Actress Keke Palmer Joins Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen in Aziz Ansari’s Directorial Debut Film ‘Good Fortune’
Actress Keke Palmer has been cast in Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut “Good Fortune,” also starring Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen. The two-time Emmy winner was originally set to star in the Indian American actor and comedian’s previous directorial debut “Being Mortal,” along with Reeves before Searchlight was shut down by the studio over alleged inappropriate conduct by star Bill Murray.
News reports at the time said Murray allegedly kissed and straddled a female member of the crew. He later said it was meant as a joke. After Searchlight departed the film, leaving it in limbo, Murray settled the lawsuit out of court for a reported $100,000.
Speaking to Deadline in summer 2022, Palmer had nothing but praise for the “Parks and Recreation” actor. “Aziz Ansari is one of the coolest people that I ever met. That was the coolest experience, but I don’t know anything more than that.”
Her role in the film is under wraps. “Good Fortune” stars Ansari, along with Reeves and Rogen. He also serves as a producer alongside Anthony Katagas and Alan Young.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued to entertainment portals like Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, Ansari said “Keke is a delight to work with,” adding that he’s “so happy she’s a part of our cast.”
Ansari is most known for creating the Netflix series “Master of None,” which is loosely based on the Indian American’s real-life experiences. He plays the role of Dev, a New York-based actor who is struggling to identify what he really wants, both personally and professionally.
His most recent comedy special, “Nightclub Comedian,” for Netflix, premiered on Jan 25, 2002. In the half-hour special he addresses all that has happened since 2019, being back in New York City after moving to London, his reactions to how the world and society have changed because of COVID, anti-vaxxers and more. He is more self-reflective and empathetic these days and he encourages everyone to do the same, especially people with different views than our own who he believes are simply “trapped in a different algorithm.”
His 2019 Netflix special “Right Now,” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. Directed by Spike Jonze, it addressed the anonymous sexual misconduct accusation made against Ansari in 2018. “It made me think about a lot, and I hope I’ve become a better person,” he told the audience.