Hulu’s upcoming comedy-thrillerSelf Reliancewill be the directorial debut ofJake Johnson,but fans will have to wait a bit longer to see it with their own eyes. It has been announced that the film’s release window on the streamer has been pushed back two months to November 2023, afterpreviously being slatedfor a Sept. 8, 2023 release. The film, which had its world premiere this past March at theSXSW Film Festivalin Austin, Texas, has not been given an exact new release date yet, and it is unclear if the pushback is yet another release casualty of the ongoingSAG/AFTRA and WGA strikes. It wouldn’t be surprising if Hulu, which acquired the film in a deal with MRC and Paramount Global Content Distribution, would want to wait forSelf Reliance’sstars to be able to promote the film post-strike, given its A-list cast.
Beyond directing, Johnson stars inSelf Relianceas a dull middle-aged man who is invited into a limo by none other than the film’s co-star,Andy Samberg.Upon entering the limo, “Johnson is offered a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show, where assassins from all over the world attempt to kill him for 30 days. The catch? He can’t be killed if he’s not entirely alone, leading him to recruit an unlikely team to help him survive,” according to a synopsis of the film from Hulu.
In addition to Johnson and Samberg,Self-ReliancestarsAnna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Emily Hampshire,Christopher Lloyd, Mary Holland,GaTa, Wayne BradyandBoban Marjanović.Self-Relianceis produced by MRC, Walcott Productions, and Samberg’s Lonely Island banner, with Johnson producing the film alongsideJoe HardestyandAli Bell.Executive producers include Samberg,Akiva Schaffer,andJorma Tacconefor Lonely Island.
Self-RelianceHas an All-Star Cast
While Johnson is taking his turn behind the camera, he is best known for his on-screen chops. His breakout role came in the Fox sitcomNew GirlalongsideZooey Deschanel.His most notable role, though, is arguably as the voice of Peter B. Parker in the animatedSpiderversefilmsSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseand its sequel,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.He is expected to reprise the voice role in the third film,Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,which wasrecently removedfrom Sony’s release schedule. He is also known for his work in films such as21 Jump Street, Jurassic World,andThe Mummy.
Samberg rose to fame as a member of NBC’s sketch comedy showSaturday Night Liveand is a co-creator of The Lonely Island comedy music troupe. He is also known for his role as the immature but lovable detective Jake Peralta on NBC’sBrooklyn 99sitcom, for which he received critical acclaim. Healso had a voice roleinAcross the Spider-Versealongside Johnson.
Kendrick is best known for her role in thePitch Perfectmusical film series, along with her participation in a number of big-budget productions likeInto the WoodsandEnd of Watch.She ventured into dramatic roles with a standout performance in the crime thrillerA Simple FavoralongsideBlake Lively.
