Michael Shanks, the visionary filmmaker behind the cult horror sensation "Together" from last year, has forged a partnership with Adam McKay, the versatile writer-director-producer behind films like "Vice" and "Don't Look Up," for an intriguing mystery project. Sony Pictures has acquired an untitled sci-fi comedy, penned by Shanks, with McKay attached to helm the film.
McKay is producing the feature alongside Todd Schulman through their banner, Hyperobject Industries. Andrew Mittman, who served as an executive producer on "Wednesday" and was involved in the development of Tim Burton's remake of the B-movie classic "Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman," is also producing via his 1.21 Pictures. The company's Kai Dolbashian will serve as executive producer. The two previously collaborated with Shanks on "Together."
While details on the project are being kept under wraps, it's described as a sci-fi comedy that promises to be a hilarious and thought-provoking blend of genres.
Shanks, who began his career making YouTube and online shorts, made his feature directorial debut with "Together," a unique body horror film starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie. The movie premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, sparking a bidding war that ultimately led Neon to acquire it for $17 million.
His next film is a feature project titled "Hotel, Hotel, Hotel, Hotel," a mind-bending sci-fi thriller set up at A24. The script, which he wrote, was on the 2021 Black List. The project was the first collaboration between the writer-director and McKay and Schulman, who are among those producing "Hotel."
McKay, whose films span genres from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and "Talladega Nights" to "The Big Short" and "Vice," as well as episodes of "Succession" and "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," last directed 2021's "Don't Look Up," a satire with an A-list cast that became one of Netflix's most-watched movies.
Hyperobject remains a busy banner, with upcoming projects including a mini-series centered on Jeffrey Epstein, based on Julie K. Brown's book "Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story," starring Laura Dern.
Shanks is represented by WME, Untitled, and attorney Chris Abramson. McKay is represented by CAA and Johnson Shapiro.
