Clea DuVall To Direct 'Abbi And The Eighth Wonder' For TriStar Pictures

Clea DuVall Art Streiber

EXCLUSIVE: Clea DuVall (Happiest Season) has been tapped to direct Abbi and the Eighth Wonder, a female-driven comedy adventure film in development at TriStar Pictures.

Based on an original screenplay by Matt Roller, which made the Black List in 2021, the film’s plot is under wraps. Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen will produce for 21 Laps, with Emily Feher overseeing the project for the company.

Abbi and the Eighth Wonder reunites DuVall with TriStar on the heels of Happiest Season, the hit LGBTQ+ romantic comedy, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, which she co-wrote and directed. Licensed by Hulu in the U.S. in 2020, the film broke streaming records on the platform after it earned the number one spot and became the most-watched original film on Hulu on its opening weekend.

Previously helming the Sundance dramedy The Intervention starring Melanie Lynskey, Jason Ritter, Natasha Lyonne and more, DuVall is also known for creating and exec producing both Fox’s adult animated series HouseBroken and Amazon Freevee’s coming-of-age drama High School, having also lent her voice to the former show. As an actress, she’s also known for roles on series like The Handmaid’s Tale, The First Lady and Veep, as well as such films as Argo, Zodiac and Addicted to Fresno.

Known for his work in the comedy and animation spaces, Roller’s past credits as a writer and producer include Rick and Morty, Community, The Goldbergs, Archer, Mr. Mayor, and most recently, Krapopolis. In features, he’s written scripts for numerous studios including Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation.

Poised to open the Shawn Levy-helmed Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26, Levy’s 21 Laps also has on its dance card upcoming projects including the Lionsgate horror thriller Never Let Go starring Halle Berry; Netflix’s limited series The Perfect Couple, based on the NYT bestseller, starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber; Disney+’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; and Stranger Things Season 5.

DuVall is represented by UTA and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis; Roller by Entertainment 360, CAA, and attorneys Ken Richman and Bryan Swatt at HJTH.