Actor Kal Penn will star in a new documentary, as yet untitled, about the global economy for Amazon, to be produced by Adam McKay, Will Ferrell and Adam Davidson (co-founder of NPR’s “Planet Money”), according to Variety. The docuseries will offer viewers insight into the global economy.
“Look, I’m terrible at math and really good at sophomoric humor, so the idea that we can explore economics around the world by visiting places like a dildo factory in California piqued my interest,” Variety quoted the Indian American actor as saying. “To have an opportunity to explore the world while we combine the serious with the bizarre with Adam and Will is super exciting.”
The untitled show will offer insight into the global economy and its “comedic eccentricities.” Amazon Studios is ready to explore the global economy with Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Kal Penn.
The retailer/streamer has handed out a straight-to-series order for an untitled docuseries examining the world’s finances. Penn will host the series, which is exec produced by Ferrell and McKay (The Big Short) as well as Adam Davidson (the co-founder of NPR’s Planet Money).
Amazon says the docuseries will offer “extraordinary insight into the global economy and its comedic eccentricities, all through a sardonic lens unique to McKay.”
“Adam Davidson is one of the more brilliant and funny minds out there. After collaborating with him on The Big Short, I jumped at the chance to continue trying to make economics and finance accessible to a wide audience,” McKay said.
Penn, the former White House associate director of public engagement, will invite viewers to meet the “geniuses, madmen and huskers” who make the decisions and investments that impact society. Topics to be explored include cryptocurrency, money laundering, death and corruption as the show sets out to explore how money, greed and power affect the hyper-connected world.
“Adam McKay is well known for finding the humor and absurdity in mind-blowing true stories, and we’re excited to bring that to Prime members with this series,” said Heather Schuster, head of unscripted at Amazon. “As with all of our unscripted series, we are committed to providing our customers with unprecedented access — this time to the fascinating and often illusive back rooms of global wealth and industry.”
Ferrell, McKay, Kevin Messick, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman and Aliyah Silverstein exec produce the docuseries from Intellectual Property Corp. and Gary Sanchez Productions. Davidson will be credited as a co-EP, while Penn will consult.
Penn will take viewers around the world to meet the “geniuses, madmen and hucksters” who make the decisions—and investments—that change people’s lives. The series will reportedly cover a range of topics, including cryptocurrency, money laundering, death and corruption, to explore how money, greed and power affect the hyper-connected world.
Penn was last seen on ABC’s “Designated Survivor.” Previously, he served as the host of Fox’s one-hour unscripted competition series, “Superhuman,” that tested the abilities of ordinary people to use their extraordinary skills – in fields such as memory, hearing, taste, touch, smell and sight.
