Netflix acquires Johnny Rosenthal’s ‘Aunt Roxie’ for Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort
The holiday season calls for special comedy pills, and thankfully, Netflix just tapped Johnny Rosenthal’s Aunt Roxie to do the deed.
According to an exclusive Deadline report, Netflix has officially got its hands on the comedy special, which is co-produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and Amy Williams.
Aunt Roxie revolves around a buoyant, happy-go-lucky author who shoulders the responsibility of babysitting her highly strung sister’s gifted children for the week. But the week turns into a whirlwind of turbulence when she grapples with teenage romance, elementary school politics, and her own chaotic love life, all while figuring out how to be an endearing aunt and, most importantly, a reliable and dependent adult.
Rosenthal has made a name for writing the Billy Bob Thornton-starrer Bad Santa 2, which amassed over $100million worldwide for the franchise. A third instalment is currently in the works. In recent times, he also sold his spec script, Christmas in Paradise, to Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists with Jeff Tomsic directing, Scott Stuber producing, and Nate Bargatze starring.
Coming to Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, it recently got on board for an Amazon MGM reboot of the 1974 United Artists action-comedy Thunderbolt & Lightfoot. He is set to star in it.
Fresh off the groundbreaking success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time in 2024, Reynolds also found his company involved in several new projects, including the documentary, John Candy: I Like Me and the live-action R-rated hybrid for Legendary, Animal Friends.
Maximum Effort has also dipped its toes in the Kenneth Branagh-led thriller The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde, an Apple TV action-comedy, Mayday, starring Reynolds and Branagh, alongside Close Personal Friends for Amazon MGM Studios again.
Meanwhile, Williams’ production roster includes Rally Cops led by Judd Hirsch and Amy Smart, and Mothers and Daughters starring Selma Blair, Courteney Cox, Sharon Stone, Mia Sorvino, Christina Ricci, and Susan Sarandon. Her produced credit additionally features the Best Documentary winner at the Hamptons Film Festival, The Morrison Project.
While further details are expected to surface over time, since the deal has just been approved, for more details, stay tuned for additional updates.