Ray Romano’s Directorial Debut ‘Somewhere in Queens’ Acquired by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

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Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have teamed up to acquire and release “Somewhere in Queens,” the directorial debut from comedian Ray Romano, who also stared in and co-wrote the feature.

Roadside is planning a 2023 theatrical release for “Somewhere in Queens,” which first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and in addition to Romano stars Oscar nominee Laurie Metcalf, Tony Lo Bianco, Sebastian Maniscalco, Jennifer Esposito, Sadie Stanley and Jacob Ward. And though it has just 10 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, it still has a 100% Fresh rating among critics.

“Somewhere in Queens” follows Leo Russo (Romano), who lives a simple life in Queens, New York, with his wife Angela (Laurie Metcalf), their shy but talented son “Sticks” (Jacob Ward) and Leo’s close-knit network of Italian-American relatives and neighborhood friends. Happy enough working at the family construction business alongside his father (Tony Lo Bianco) and younger brother (Sebastian Maniscalco), Leo lives each week for Sticks’ high-school basketball games, never missing a chance to cheer on his only child as he rules the court as a star athlete. When the high-school senior gets a surprising and life-changing opportunity to play basketball in college, Leo jumps at the chance to provide a plan for his future, away from the family construction business. But when sudden heartbreak threatens to derail Sticks, Leo goes to unexpected lengths to keep his son on this new path.

Mark Stegemann co-wrote the script with Romano; they both also produced alongside Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa.

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“Ray Romano has delivered an outstanding directorial debut, creating a vibrant family tapestry that is immediately relatable and heartfelt. We are very proud to be distributing the film with our partners at Roadside and feel it will really connect with audiences,” Eda Kowan, Lionsgate’s EVP Acquisitions & Co-Productions, said in a statement.

“We at Roadside fell in love with Ray Romano’s accomplished directorial debut, which takes us into the heart of the boisterous and unforgettable Russo family in Queens,” Howard Cohen, co-president, Roadside Attractions, added. “Ray finds deeply satisfying drama and humor in their ostentatious celebrations and caustic expressions of love.”

“I am so excited to know that Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions will be bringing this movie to theaters everywhere,” Romano said. “I lived with every facet of this production for years, as a director, co-writer, actor, and producer. It’s such a personal story for me, and it’s inspiring to see these two companies step up because they believe in the movie as much as I do.”

The acquisition was negotiated by Kowan, Cohen, and Lionsgate’s Grace Duplissea and Kaycee Holcomb. The deal was negotiated by CAA, Range Select and Del Shaw on behalf of the filmmakers

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