EXCLUSIVE: Disney has acquired In Real Life, a new comedy spec from writers Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith, with Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, the creators of the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, aboard to produce via their Counterbalance banner.
Reps for the studio declined comment. Sources describe the project as falling somewhere between a high-concept modern rom-com and a female buddy comedy. Specifics as to its plot are under wraps. Dina Hillier will exec produce for Counterbalance, whose Julia Virtue will co-produce.
Scribes Yuspa and Goldsmith are known for writing the original 13 Going on 30, an enduringly popular rom-com starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo that has a sequel coming together at Netflix. They also wrote What Women Want, starring Helen Hunt and Mel Gibson, which remains one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all time at a worldwide gross exceeding $374M.
More recently, the duo wrote the book for 13 Going on 30: The Musical, which premiered in the UK and is eyeing a West End run. In television, they’ve previously served as co-creators and showrunners on Disney+’s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers and as showrunners on the long-running CBS series The King of Queens. They are represented by CAA and Hansen, Jacobson.
Counterbalance’s Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and Heald are best known for creating Cobra Kai, a Karate Kid sequel series that originated on YouTube before breaking out as a six-season Netflix hit with 11 Emmy nominations. Hurwitz and Schlossberg are also known for their work on New Line’s Harold & Kumar franchise, as well as hit comedies Blockers and American Reunion, while Heald penned the Hot Tub Time Machine franchise for MGM.
Most recently, Counterbalance produced 72 Hours, an upcoming bachelor party comedy for Netflix directed by Tim Story and starring Kevin Hart. The three principals are also writing, producing and directing a reimagining of Knight Rider for Universal Pictures, as well as a new installment of Harold & Kumar for New Line.
Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and Heald are all with CAA. Hurwitz and Schlossberg are also repped by Hansen Jacobson; Heald by Behr Abramson.