'Bridesmaids' Pays Off; Co-Writer Annie Mumolo to Develop Project for ABC
by Scott Nye
"Bridesmaids" was given a lot more responsibility than it asked for - its success or failure would not only determine the future of the talent involved, many of whom did not have a ton of film experience, but it would also determine the future of projects that revolve around women. Yikes.
After performing better than expected at the box office (though it might say more about how these expectations are formed that $26.2 million was considered a smash), we've yet to see how that effects the future of women in entertainment, but one thing is for sure - co-writer Annie Mumolo is making the most of it.
If you don't recogize her name, know that she's the woman who wrote it who isn't Kristen Wiig. But before long, she'll be a lot better known than that.
As announced in Deadline, She and Melissa McCarthy, one of the stars of "Bridesmaids," sold a comedy pitch to Paramount last Friday about a woman (to be played by McCarthy) who goes to some rather interesting ends to help her sick husband. Let's just say I'm not sure how stealing the Stanley Cup factors in, but I'm more than curious to find out.
Mumolo's real power play came today, when The Hollywood Reporter revealed that she sold a blind script deal to ABC.
What that essentially means is that ABC is so sure of Mumolo's talent, or at least their ability to sell a series based on her credits, that they paid her a huge sum without knowing what she has written or will write for them.
She might have not even opened the new Final Draft document. So for those who say writers don't matter in entertainment anymore...it appears they still matter some of the time.
Based on the strength of "Bridesmaids" (which is really, really awesome), I'm game for whatever Mumolo cooks up next. In the meantime, if you haven't seen it already, please do see "Bridesmaids." Guys, I know it stars women, but don't worry, they're just as scared of you as you are of them. I shouldn't have to push you this hard to see a really entertaining, incredibly funny movie, but if that's what it takes then that's what it takes.