Kumail Nanjiani is an Oscar-nominated writer, actor, and comedian. He’s been in the MCU, done a Star Wars, kicked it with the Ghostbusters, been to Fallout‘s Wasteland, checked in at Only Murders In The Building‘s Arconia, showed us his Poker Face, and even finished third on his season of Taskmaster. Now, in addition to all of that, Nanjiani is adding another feather to his already many-feathered hat. Per Deadline‘s reporting, The Big Sick writer-star’s directorial debut, werewolf movie Howl, has landed at Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures.
Penned by Madison Vanderberg, whose original screenplay wound up on Hollywood’s prestigious Black List in 2024, Howl‘s premise sort of sounds a little bit like Network with a werewolf, or Money Monster with a werewolf, or Late Night With The Devil with a werewolf, or… well, basically, a lycanthropic horror comedy take on any film set amid a live TV broadcast, really. Per the logline shared by Deadline, “Howl follows a famous but notoriously troubled actor who announces on a talk show that in less than an hour, he’ll turn into a werewolf — on live TV.” Whether or not Nanjiani — who’s set to lead as well as direct — will go full Jack-in-An-American-Werewolf-In-London with this one or it’ll turn out his unstable thespian is a few nuts short of a toolbox very much remains to be seen… but the movie’s dual genre billing suggests that may very much be the hook here.
Howl comes at an incredibly busy time for the perpetually incredibly busy Kumail Nanjiani. His first comedy special in over a decade, Night Thoughts, came out just a few short months ago. Acting roles in Kristen Stewart starring stoner comedy The Wrong Girls, The White Lotus‘ forthcoming fourth season, and Mel Brooks spoof spin-off Very Young Frankenstein are well on their way. And Nanjiani, alongside wife Emily V. Gordon, has graphic novel adaptation Sex Criminals in the works for Prime Video, too. In other words, if you’re a Kumail Stan-jiani like us, then there’s plenty to, well, howl about just now. Now Marvel Studios, you know what to do… bring back Kingo !
