Kevin Hart is to reunite with his Ride Along director Tim Story for the comedy flick 72 Hours. This marks their third major collaboration, with their previous films achieving significant box office success worldwide.
The 45-year-old actor — who last worked with the filmmaker, 55, on Ride Along 2 in 2016 — is to star in the new movie for Sony Pictures, Deadline reports. The duo’s creative partnership has spanned nearly a decade, establishing them as a formidable team in the comedy genre.
The movie, which was written by Matt Mider, Kevin Burrows, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg 10 years ago, centers on a 40-year-old executive who, in a bid to revive his struggling career, joins a gang of twentysomethings for a wild, three-day bachelor party — after being mistakenly added to their group chat. The script has been highly regarded in Hollywood circles since its inception.
The film is to be produced by Hart’s production company Hartbeat, alongside Davis Entertainment, Counterbalance and Will Packer, while Ross Fanger is to serve as executive producer. This production team brings together some of the most successful names in comedy filmmaking today.
Deadline reports 72 Hours is being produced as part of a partnership established in 2021, in which Sony Pictures gives Netflix the first look at any projects intended for streaming. This arrangement has already resulted in several successful releases on the platform.
The outlet claims 72 Hours has become a high priority for Netflix since Hart and Story signed on, with the pair’s involvement bringing new life to the project. Industry insiders suggest the streaming service is positioning the film as a potential flagship comedy release.
The flick is part of Hartbeat’s ongoing partnership with Netflix to bring comedy to the platform. In 2023, they released “Kevin Hart and Chris Rock: Headliners Only,” “The Roast of Tom Brady,” and Lift, which became the streamer’s No. 1 global movie with 32.8 million views and 58.5 million hours watched in its first three days. These impressive metrics highlight Hart‘s consistent drawing power on streaming platforms.
Previously, Hartbeat’s 2022 film Me Time, which starred Hart and Mark Wahlberg, also debuted as the platform’s top movie. This track record of success has cemented Hart’s status as one of Netflix’s most valuable creative partners.
“I am very aware that I am getting older and turning into a vet in our business,” Hart said. His career spans more than two decades, during which he has transitioned from stand-up comedy to becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
The Jumanji star told “Extra”: “We do have a responsibility, and that responsibility is to try to position those that are next in the best way to exceed what we’ve done and go above and beyond … If it was set up for us to kind of just step and repeat and have the same layer of a success as the ones before us, then the business would pretty much have already peaked. Hart’s mentorship approach has helped launch the careers of several up-and-coming comedians and actors.
“The business only continues to grow and succeed and reach new levels because of what people are doing and creating underneath. So, I can only hope that this generation of amazing talent and actors, actresses, entrepreneurs, influencers, you know, the next wave of funny and the next wave of drama, like, they’re real. The next wave of directors and producers are real.” This perspective reflects Hart’s broader vision for the entertainment industry.
Hart added he felt a responsibility to “open as many doors” as possible for the next generation of up-and-coming movie stars. His production company has increasingly focused on developing projects that spotlight emerging talent.
“All we can try to do is kick open as many doors for them to discover new locks to the doors behind,” he said. This mentorship philosophy has become a cornerstone of Hart’s approach to his production ventures, with 72 Hours likely to continue this tradition by featuring both established stars and fresh faces.
Production on 72 Hours is expected to begin soon, with Netflix eyeing a potential release window to maximize the film’s audience reach and impact in the competitive streaming landscape.
