Michael Angelo Covino’s sophomore feature directing effort, Splitsville, was unveiled this evening as part of the Cannes Film Festival Premiere section. It was greeted with a eight-minute reception.
The comedy, co-written by Covino and Kyle Martin, follows Ashley (Adria Arjona) who, after asking for a divorce, spurs the good-natured Carey (Kyle Marvin) to run to his friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Covino), for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos. The movie also stars Nicholas Braun, O-T Fagbenle, David Castañeda and Charlie Gillespie.
Covino has said, “The thing that interests me are the times when people think they’re doing the right thing … but end up getting it wrong.”
He and Marvin developed Splitsville under their multiyear first-look deal with Topic Studios, which produced Covino’s debut, The Climb. Together with Topic Studios and Neon, Covino and Marvin produced Splitsville with Emily Korteweg for their company Watch This Ready. Johnson, Ro Donnelly and Samantha Racanelli are producing for TeaTime Pictures, with Arjona and Paul Barbeau serving as EPs. Ryan Heller and Jeff Deutchman are producers.
Splitsville is getting an August 22 U.S. theatrical release.
The Climb won Covino Cannes’ Un Certain Regard – Jury Coup de Coeur award in 2019.
Erik Pedersen contributed to this report.
Content shared from deadline.com.