Jeff Daniels is returning to comedy after the genre helped make him a household name. The veteran actor, who first rose to fame in comedy with Dumb & Dumber, is making a homecoming.
According to an exclusive Deadline report, the Emmy-winning actor will lead The Reception, an ensemble comedy about a chaotic Scottish wedding. Directed by Trudie Styler, the movie is scheduled to begin production next month at an estate near Loch Ness in Scotland.
Styler and Celine Rattray are producing through Maven Screen Media, with Piers Tempest producing for Tempo Productions. Beta Cinema is launching sales at the Toronto International Film Festival market.
The Reception story follows Felix, a groom who leaves his bride, Victoria, at the altar. Instead of ending the wedding, the guests decide to continue with the celebration. Their attempt to preserve appearances soon turns into a disaster.
What else is Jeff Daniels known for besides Dumb & Dumber?
Jeff Daniels became a renowned face in comedy for playing Harry Dunne alongside Jim Carrey in Dumb & Dumber. It was released in 1994 and remains one of his best-known roles. He returned for the 2014 sequel, Dumb and Dumber To.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the original has a 67% Tomatometer score and an 84% audience score, while The Numbers reports a worldwide gross of about $127 million. However, he has spent his career juggling between comedy and drama.
Daniels gained early attention in 1983’s Terms of Endearment before appearing in Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo, Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild, Gettysburg, and Fly Away Home. He later received praise for Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale.
Daniels was widely popular on television, too. His work has earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. He won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for playing news anchor Will McAvoy in HBO’s The Newsroom and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Netflix’s Godless.
The 71-year-old’s other television credits include The Looming Tower, The Comey Rule, American Rust, and A Man in Full. The Reception gives Daniels a chance to return to comedy. The film has no announced theatrical release date.