A new movie filmed in Central New York is headed to Hulu.
Deadline reports the streaming service bought “Big Time Adolescence” for $4 million after the film was nominated for the grand jury prize at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and certified 90 percent “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s unclear how much the movie cost to make, but the production was described as a “low budget indie.”
The movie was shot last summer around Syracuse through the Liverpool-based production company American High. Written and directed by Jason Orley, “Big Time Adolescence” stars Pete Davidson (“Saturday Night Live”) as a charismatic college dropout who corrupts a 16-year-old virgin (“American Vandal” actor Griffin Gluck) with a growth hormone deficiency.
The film’s cast also includes Colson Baker (better known as rapper Machine Gun Kelly), Syndey Sweeney (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Emily Arlook (“Grown-ish”), Thomas Barbusca (“The Mick”), Oona Lawrence (“Pete’s Dragon”), and Jon Cryer (“Pretty in Pink,” “Two and a Half Men”). Cryer told THR that he loved doing the movie because he got to punch Davidson in the face.
Davidson, who also serves as an executive producer, earned high praise for his first starring role in the comedy-drama, drawing comparisons to Matthew McConaughey’s Wooderson in “Dazed & Confused.”
Other reviews compared the coming-of-age film to John Hughes, whose high school comedies were the inspiration for Hollywood filmmaker Jeremy Garelick (“The Wedding Ringer,” “The Hangover”) when he bought the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in Liverpool, N.Y. The school, now known as Syracuse Studios, is used for shooting high school-set comedies under Garelick’s production company American High, as well as a film school for aspiring filmmakers and actors.
A release date has not been announced for “Big Time Adolescence." Deadline reports the film is still eyeing a theatrical release, likely before it begins streaming on Hulu.
Davidson, who returns to “SNL” for his sixth season later this month, appears to be using “Big Time Adolescence” as a launching point for a film career. He reportedly shot a new star vehicle directed by Judd Apatow this past summer and is in talks for a role in James Gunn’s upcoming “Suicide Squad" sequel.
Davidson, however, may have lost some fans in CNY after he called Syracuse “trash” and claimed that local police targeted him during the film production.
“It sucked... The whole town of Syracuse blows,” the 25-year-old comedian told Variety in January. “To be honest, they just found out I was there and tried to arrest me the entire time... There’s nothing going on there so they were hunting me down the entire time."
Davidson was pulled over by Manlius police in Fayetteville, N.Y., in August. He was not charged but his passenger and friend, fellow comedian-actor Joseph “Joey” Gay Jr., was charged with a violation for unlawful possession of marijuana and a fourth-degree felony for possession of concentrated cannabis. Joey Gay pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of marijuana in a plea deal; he paid $225 in cash in fines.
Davidson suggested he was targeted because of his celebrity status. He was spotted in public frequently during breaks in filming, including at Destiny USA with superstar pop singer Ariana Grande (his then-fiancee) and local restaurants like Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Funk 'n Waffles. Davidson and Gay also performed at a charity comedy show at Syracuse Studios.
Town of Manlius Police Capt. Kevin Schafer said its officers do not target anyone: “When we stop a vehicle, we don’t know who’s in it.” Davidson was driving and pulled over for violating vehicle and traffic law, Schafer told syracuse.com and The Post-Standard.
Davidson attempted to return to Syracuse last month for two shows at the Funny Bone at Destiny USA, but canceled days prior due to “unforeseen circumstances."
American High is about to begin production on its sixth movie in Liverpool and the surrounding area. The title, cast and director have not been announced, but recent casting calls have sought vintage cars, hundreds of extras and a “special dairy cow."
American High also shot “Holly Slept Over,” “Banana Split,” “Looks That Kill” and “Sid is Dead" over the past two years. American High co-founder Jeremy Garelick, meanwhile, is set to write and direct a separate high-profile project: A reboot of “Look Who’s Talking,” the 1989 movie that starred Kirstie Alley and John Travolta with Bruce Willis as the voice of a baby’s inner monologue.