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Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming comedy feature Close Personal Friends has expanded its ensemble with six new additions. Joining the previously announced leads are Anna Konkle (PEN15), Melissa Villaseñor (Saturday Night Live), Natasia Demetriou (What We Do in the Shadows), Jack Shalloo (Stay Close), Patti Harrison (Poker Face), and Dustin Demri-Burns (The Magic Faraway Tree).
The new casting continues to build momentum for the project, which reunites director Jason Orley with producing partners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger after their 2022 romantic comedy I Want You Back, starring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate. Aptaker penned the script, based on a story co-written with Orley, and the duo are producing alongside Berger for The Walk-Up Company. Maximum Effort’s Ashley Fox and Johnny Pariseau are also on board as producers, with Orley serving as executive producer.
While the plot remains under wraps, the film has already attracted a strong leading lineup that includes Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. With this mix of comedic talent and established stars, Close Personal Friends is shaping up as one of Amazon MGM’s most anticipated comedy releases.
Konkle, an Emmy nominee and co-creator of Hulu’s critically acclaimed PEN15, continues to carve out an impressive path in comedy. Her upcoming film credits include Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson’s untitled Alaska feature as well as Josh Trank’s Send a Scare. She is represented by OPE Partners and UTA.
Villaseñor, who made history as the first Latina cast member of Saturday Night Live, brings her singular comedic voice to the ensemble. Beyond SNL, her credits include appearances on Barry, Crashing, and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, as well as Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. She is represented by WME, Compound Management, and Garrett Legal.
Demetriou, a BAFTA nominee celebrated for her turn as Nadja in FX’s hit comedy What We Do in the Shadows, also co-created and starred in the BBC sketch show Ellie & Natasia. Her blend of quirky humor and sharp timing adds further weight to the film’s roster. She is represented by United Agents and Ocean Avenue.
Shalloo brings a dramatic edge to the ensemble, having appeared in Netflix’s Stay Close, ITV’s The Tower and Belgravia, Steve McQueen’s Blitz, and Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917. He will also feature in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. He is represented by The Artists Partnership.
Harrison, known for her work on Shrill, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, and Search Party, has continued to stand out across comedy and drama. On film, she earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Together Together, and has appeared in The Lost City and Theater Camp. She is represented by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Rounding out the latest additions, Demri-Burns, best known as one half of the BAFTA-nominated sketch duo Cardinal Burns, has been seen in All My Friends Hate Me, The Spy Who Dumped Me, Slow Horses, and Dope Girls. He is next set to star in the feature adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree. He is represented by United Agents and Linden Entertainment.
With a mix of breakout comedy stars, seasoned performers, and Hollywood headliners, Close Personal Friends is positioning itself as a sharp, ensemble-driven project that could be Amazon MGM’s next big comedic hit.
