Fresh off an Emmy nomination for his work as Paper Boi on FX’sAtlanta,Brian Tyree Henryis in final negotiations to joinMelissa McCarthyin New Line’s action-comedySuperintelligence, Collider has exclusively learned.
McCarthy’s husband and longtime collaboratorBen Falconeis directing from a script bySteve Mallory(The Boss). McCarthy and Falcone are also producing via their company On the Day. Production is currently under way in Atlanta, and Warner Bros. will release the film next year on Christmas Day.
McCarthy will play a former corporate executive whose earnest yet unfulfilled life is turned upside down when she’s selected for observation by the world’s first super-intelligence — an artificial intelligence that may or may not take over the world. Late night hostJames Cordenwill provide the voice of the artificial intelligence, whileBobby Cannavalewill play McCarthy’s former boyfriend, who re-enters her life after an extended absence.
Henry is nearing a deal to play McCarthy’s best friend inSuperintelligence, and while he’s a very funny actor, this happens to be his first major studio comedy, as he has gravitated towards more dramatic fare of late.
With the second season ofAtlantain the books, Henry is gearing up for a monster fall, as he co-stars inSteve McQueen’s heist movieWidows,Barry Jenkins' dramaIf Beale Street Could Talk, and the drug dramaWhite Boy RickstarringMatthew McConaughey. You can see him in the trailer, encouraging young Ricky Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt) to deal drugs, though according to IMDb, he’s playing a character named Detective Jackson, so perhaps that’s how Wershe wound up a government informant at the tender age of 15. Henry also voices Jefferson Davis inSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which is shaping up to be a hit this holiday season, judging by early reaction to the animated film’s eye-popping trailers.
Henry’s previously appeared alongsideSterling K. BrowninHotel Artemisand alongside hisAtlantaco-starLakeith Stanfieldthe acclaimed indie dramaCrown Heights. He’s represented by CAA, JWS Entertainment and attorney Darren M. Trattner.
