What Is Going On With Jonah Hill & Kristen Wiig's New Movie?

While appearing on SmartLess Live in late April (above), an oddly exuberant Jonah Hill raved about his next movie, Cut Off, and how he was excited to get back to his comedy roots. I say oddly exuberant because Jonah does not have a reputation for his interview demeanor. Ask any writer who regularly interviews celebs which subject gave them PTSD, and the answer will inevitably come back Jonah. Anyway, here’s what he told the SmartLess guys, who he couldn’t get away with openly disdaining on a live stage.

Via THR:

“It’s dumb. I’m about to go on a run of just the dumbest shit you’ve ever seen in your entire life. I hope you left your brains at home. It’s called Cut Off and Kristen Wiig and I play two dumb ass heirs, rich kids in their mid-40s who get cut off by their rich parents, played by Bette Midler and Nathan Lane. It is like Step Brothers, Clueless and Trading Places. Classic comedy. It’s so great, and Kristen Wiig is an American treasure. I’ve been so lucky. I last worked with Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz and now Bette Midler and Nathan Lane. I’m the luckiest guy, and this one is going to be in theaters. Shout out [Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy] at Warner Bros. We are trying to bring comedy back to theaters.”

Not even 24 hours after THR reported Hill’s self-praise — he wrote and directed the film — Warner. Bros pulled Cut Off’s release date. Womp womp. Since then, there’s been little chatter about the film until Puck News dropped a report this weekend claiming the film is “unreleasable.” Both Warner Bros. and Hill immediately fired back.

Via The Wrap:

“That speculation is inaccurate,” a spokesperson for the studio told The Wrap Friday evening after Puck News’ Matthew Belloni claimed the movie was no longer scheduled for July 17 as it was viewed as “unreleasable.” (The original July 17 release date would’ve seen “Cut Off” going up against Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated “The Odyssey” adaptation starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland and more notable names.)

A representative for Hill expressed a similar sentiment, sharing with The Wrap that the movie was simply “not finished” yet and currently in post production.

According to The Wrap, Cut Off is still in post-production and a new release date will be announced. Whether that’s a theatrical or streaming release is anybody’s guess. Jonah’s last directorial effort, Outcome, was an Apple TV release, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Cut Off gets sold to Apple or Amazon. Warner Bros. just took a bath on Supergirl and has not been having a great box office year, so it could be trying to cut some losses.

That’s just my two cents though, and keep in mind my area of expertise is Meghan McCain jokes. If she’s not in the top photo, be very cautious about what you read. I’m mostly winging it here.