Peter Farrelly’s ‘Ricky Stanicki’: Shooting in Melbourne
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Peter Farrelly, director of the Oscar-winning film “Green Book,” will begin production on his long-awaited “Ricky Stanicky” next month. The film will be shot in Melbourne, Australia, where the two stars of the film, Zac Efron and John Cena, have arrived.
Ricky Stanicki is the name of a fictional character invented by three friends to blame someone for misbehaving them. When their partners become suspicious, they are forced to hire a disguised actor to bring Stanicky to life. This move has serious, but hilarious consequences. Cena will play the role of Steniki.
The film marks a return to the R-rated comedy genre for Farrelly, where he previously delivered “Something About Mary” and “Hall Pass.”
For Efron, this is his second film with Farrelly who directed his recent “The Greatest Bear Run Ever,” which premiered globally on Apple TV+ last September.
“Ricky Stanicki” will enjoy A$9.5 million ($6.75 million) in financial support from the Australian Federal Government’s Location Incentive Scheme. To date, A$421 million ($299 million) has been committed under the system to attract 37 international productions to Australia.
Additional support for the film will come from the Victorian State Government’s Victorian Screen Incentive Program. The project is expected to inject more than A$70 million ($49.7 million) into the Australian economy and create more than 400 jobs for local cast and crew, officials said.
Production will continue through February and March. Melbourne Doubles for Providence, Rhode Island.
Oscar-winning Australian producer, Paul Currie (“Hacksaw Ridge”), international sales agent and producer, Thorsten Schumacher, and comedy producer John Jacobs will produce. CAA Media Finance is representing rights in North America, while Schumacher’s Rocket Science is handling international sales for the rest of the world.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back in Australia – and in particular, in Melbourne, where I spent my honeymoon 26 years ago,” Farrelly said in a statement. “And it’s a dream come true to finally make the movie I’ve been trying to make for ten years.” In 2013, it was reported that Jim Carrey would star in a Summit Entertainment production directed by Steve Odekirk.
