Full Breakdown
Mike Birbiglia’s First Feature in a Decade Gets Greenlight from Focus Features
8/25/2026, 12:05:25 AM
Film Greenlit and Production Timeline
Focus Features has officially greenlit the comedy “Old Friends New Friends,” marking the studio’s newest comedy project. The production is slated to begin filming in the fall, following Birbiglia’s decision earlier this month to cancel a select series of stand-up dates that were to run alongside John Mulaney. The film’s logline describes a group of college friends reuniting at a summer-camp wedding, only to discover the groom has built a new life with new friends, prompting them to confront what they have lost and how they have changed.
Cast and Creative Team
The project brings together a youthful ensemble: Lucas Hedges (known for *Manchester by the Sea* and *Lady Bird*), Patrick Schwarzenegger (appearing in *Beach Read* and the MCU’s *Thunderbolts*), Geraldine Viswanathan (featured in *Thunderbolts* and *Drive-Away Dolls*), and Dylan Gelula (seen in *Dream Scenario* and *Smile 2*). Birbiglia will direct from his own screenplay and co-produce with Jacob Jaffke (producer of the *X* trilogy and *Dream Scenario*) and Joe Hartwick (producer of the *Maze Runner* franchise and *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*). All four producers are represented by Oddball Entertainment, which is handled by CAA and other agencies.
Birbiglia’s Return to Feature Filmmaking
The greenlight represents Birbiglia’s first feature film in ten years. His previous directing credits include the semi-autobiographical dramedy *Sleepwalk With Me* (2012), which won the Best of NEXT Audience Award at Sundance, and the ensemble comedy *Don’t Think Twice* (2016). An Emmy-nominated comedian, Birbiglia has also built a global stand-up reputation and released six solo shows on Broadway and Netflix, most recently *The Good Life*.
Industry Context and Potential Impact
Focus Features, which recently achieved a record box-office year with the horror hit *Obsession*, is expanding its comedy slate with this project. The studio’s upcoming lineup also features titles such as Paul Greengrass’s *The Uprising* and a new adaptation of *Sense and Sensibility*. By pairing Birbiglia’s comedic sensibility with a cast of rising young actors, the film aims to explore themes of friendship, adulthood, and change—topics that resonate with both millennial and Gen-Z audiences. No release date has been announced yet.
