The title story of Jen Spyra’s collection, Big Time, is headed to the big screen, with Saturday Night Live comedian Chloe Fineman playing the lead role, Deadline reports.
Spyra’s book, published in 2021 by Random House, is a collection of humorous stories from the former Late Show With Stephen Colbert and The Onion writer. The title story follows an actor from the 1940s who travels in time to the Hollywood of the present, and tries to make it in show business despite her old-fashioned attitudes.
In a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair, Spyra said she’s recently been influenced by a host of authors and comedians, including some from the past.
“In recent years my biggest influences have been classic noir films and fiction, Jack Handey, Miranda July, Shirley Jackson, Simon Rich, David and Amy Sedaris, and P.G. Wodehouse,” she said. “Before that—and to this day—there’s 19th and early-20th century American and British lit. Edith Wharton, Thomas Hardy, Brontës galore!”
Fineman is known for her large array of impressions on SNL, including Drew Barrymore, Britney Spears, and Timothée Chalamet. Her previous film work has included Home Team and Father of the Bride.
The film will be written by Spyra, who will also serve as an executive producer.
Spyra praised Fineman and producer Jonathan Glickman to Deadline, saying, “Look, Jon’s aces and Chloe’s the tops. Put your chips on Panoramic ’cause this picture’s gonna hit harder than Joe Louis. Sorry. I’ve been watching too many old movies…Chloe is a brilliant supertalent. I feel incredibly lucky to have found the right partners for Big Time.”
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
