Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is venturing into autobiographical territory for his big-screen feature debut. About My Father, a comedy based on Maniscalco's own relationship with his father and extended family, is set to hit theaters next year.
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Maniscalco's stand-up is based around his family life and upbringing, often revolving around his life with Italian immigrant parents. Beginning his career in the early 2000s performing at open mic nights, he has released five stand-up comedy specials as of 2022, with the two most recent exclusively released on Netflix. While he has appeared in supporting roles in films like Tag, Green Book, and The Irishman, About My Father will mark Maniscalco's first leading role in a major production. Maniscalco is co-writing the screenplay with Austen Earl, and Laura Terruso is on board to direct. Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Andrew Miano, and Judi Marmel will produce for Lionsgate and Depth of Field. Lionsgate will also handle distribution.
What else do we know about Sebastian Maniscalco's About My Father? How true to his life is the story? Who can we expect to see in the cast? When and where can we see the film once it is released? What should audiences know about About My Father?
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About My Father: The Plot
As mentioned, the plot is based around Maniscalco's stand-up, which often discusses his experience growing up with immigrant parents through a comedic lens. He was born and grew up in Chicago to parents that immigrated to the United States from Italy. Maniscalco then moved to Los Angeles in 1998 to pursue a career in comedy. He worked as a waiter while performing at small open mic nights to establish himself in the industry. By 2005, he began to regularly perform at The Comedy Store in Hollywood, which led to him landing his first stand-up special in 2009.
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About My Father will look more at the personal side of Maniscalco's life and family. Deadline provided a plot description.
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The pic centers around Sebastian who is encouraged by his fiancée to bring his immigrant hairdresser father Salvo to a weekend get-together with her super-rich and exceedingly eccentric family. The weekend develops into what can only be described as a culture clash, leaving Sebastian and Salvo to discover that the great thing about family is everything about family.
Maniscalco is set to play a fictionalized version of himself, with the description and occupation of his character's father matching his actual father's. However, the film is likely not going for the straight biopic route. Rather, it is believed to be based loosely on real events from Maniscalco's life. One key difference involves location. About My Father was shot in Mobile, Alabama, while Maniscalco grew up in Illinois.
In any case, fans of Maniscalco's stand-up will likely enjoy this film, as it seems to be in the same vein as his material. Those who watch his specials can count on poking fun at family, friends, human behavior, in-laws, and minor, everyday annoyances.
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While we know the general outline of the story, specific plot details are not yet available. More details will likely be released in the coming weeks and months.
About My Father: The Cast
Sebastian Maniscalco is leading the cast as a fictionalized version of himself. It is likely that the character Sebastian will differ from real-life, simply for creative purposes. He and the production team have also lined up some impressive star power in the roles of his extended family.
Robert de Niro will be playing Salvo, the titular father of Maniscalco's lead character based on his real-life father. Actor Leslie Bibb, most recently known from television roles in Jupiter's Legacy and God's Favorite Idiot, will be playing Ellie, the fiancée of Sebastian. Ellie reportedly encourages Sebastian to bring his father to meet her family, leading to a major culture clash.
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Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall is playing Tigger, the mother of Ellie and a powerful United States Senator. Schooled actor Brett Dier will be playing Doug Collins, one of Ellie's brothers. Her other brother Lucky Collins is played by Workaholics co-creator and star Anders Holm. David Rasche, known for roles in television series like Veep and Succession, is rounding out Ellie's family as her father Bill.
Other names for bit parts have floated around, but these are all the confirmed cast members at this point. Additional casting announcements and information will likely follow as production continues.
Release Date
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About My Father will be released in the United States by Lionsgate on May 26, 2023. That date gives it the Memorial Day holiday weekend to capitalize on a potential big opening. Disney is also releasing their live-action remake of The Little Mermaid on that same day, but it is unlikely that the two will share much of an overlapping audience.
