Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski announced today that Focus will partner with Working Title Films on Covers starring Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross. A comedy set among the talent, fame, and fast-paced world of Hollywood’s music scene, the production marks the follow-up film for Late Night director Nisha Ganatra with a screenplay written by Flora Greeson. Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce with Alexandra Loewy as executive producer. Focus Features will distribute the film in the U.S. and Universal Pictures International will distribute internationally.
Johnson played Anastasia Steele in E.L James’ Fifty Shades franchise and was most recently seen in Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria and Bad Times at the El Royale. Ross is an award-winning actress, producer, director and activist, best known for her Golden Globe-winning role as Dr. Rainbow Johnson on the series black-ish and playing Joan Clayton on the long-running hit series Girlfriends.
“Together Dakota and Tracee are an undeniable force of comedic talent, and along with our friends at Working Title and our director Nisha, we can’t wait to see them go head to head on this new project,” said Focus chairman Peter Kujawski.
Johnson is represented by WME, Lighthouse Management and Media, and Ziffren Brittenham. Ross is represented by UTA, Artists First, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller. Ganatra is represented by ICM and Morris, Yorn, Barnes, Levine, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner & Gellman.