The Sundance Film Festival has become a key event for discovering standout independent films, attracting distributors eager to find the next hit. Among the buzz this year is The Invite, a remake of the Spanish film The People Upstairs, which focuses on a married couple invited to swinger parties by their neighbors. Following a lively world premiere, the film has sparked interest from major players such as A24, Focus Features, NEON, Netflix, and Searchlight Pictures, with reports narrowing final bids to A24 and Focus Features. This surge highlights the enthusiasm for comedies like The Invite in an otherwise cautious industry.
However, Seth Rogen, who plays Joe in The Invite and recently won an Emmy for his role as Matt Remick on the Apple TV series The Studio, reveals that many studios shy away from such films.
“He would probably be too cowardly to make a film like this,”
Rogen said in a discussion with Den of Geek contributors Geri Courtney-Austein and Harley Bronwyn in Park City.
“He’s more IP-oriented, known brands, known things. He would like to think he would make a movie like this, but at the end of the day, he probably would not.”
The Creative Drive Behind “The Invite” and Hollywood’s Comedy Drought
Rogen stars alongside Olivia Wilde, who directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Will McCormack. The story explores Joe’s growing doubts about his marriage to Angela (played by Wilde) after they are drawn into the unconventional lifestyle led by their neighbors Pina and Hawke, portrayed by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. While the film has found a welcoming audience at Sundance, its journey also underscores Hollywood’s retreat from producing original comedies. Even high-profile talents like Wilde must rely on nurturing projects at indie festivals to see their vision realized. Wilde’s first directorial effort, Booksmart, similarly broke through via the SXSW festival in 2018.
Olivia Wilde emphasized the crucial role of comedy during difficult times, stating,
“Comedy is medicine and it has been for thousands of years. People are dying for a release, and it brings us together and allows us to be vulnerable. It connects us. There is nothing better than that feeling of ‘I thought it was just me.’ That’s the best laugh, to realize ‘Oh no, that wasn’t just me [who felt that way]!’ So we hope that is what is delivered through the film.”
Hope for a Revival of Comedy Films at Major Theaters
Screenwriter Will McCormack shares Wilde’s passion for revitalizing comedy in cinema.
“I’m so happy and proud to be a part of a comedy that’s here at Sundance and hopefully out in the world soon, because I can’t get through life without laughing,”
McCormack said.
“Even in the hardest and darkest times of my life has been some of the funniest, because we just need to excel and laugh. So I really hope comedies make a return to movie theaters, because we’ve been short on them in the last few years. So maybe The Invite is bringing them back?”
The cautious stance of industry executives like Matt Remick highlights a broader tension in Hollywood, where safer, franchise-driven projects dominate over original comedic works. Yet, the success and acclaim of films like The Invite at festivals such as Sundance suggest audiences remain eager for fresh voices and daring stories. While studios may hesitate, independent platforms will likely continue to champion these projects, with viewers hoping this trend can revive comedy’s presence on the big screen.
As Rogen’s portrayal of Matt Remick continues into The Studio’s next season, audiences can expect this storyline to explore the evolving landscape of film studios and their willingness— or reluctance— to embrace bold, original comedies like The Invite.
