Richard Curtis, the prolific writer-director behind Love Actually, is gifting audiences yet another holiday comedy this year. Set to release on Nov. 22 on Peacock, Genie stars Melissa McCarthy as Flora, a wish-granting being summoned by hapless workaholic Bernard, played by Paapa Essiedu.
The trailer is filled with Curtis’ signature feel-good, witty banter and sparkly shots of Christmas tinsel in the background. Flora literally poofs into Bernard’s life when he needs it the most — he’s missed his daughter’s birthday, his wife has left him, and his boss has given him the boot. After dusting off a jewelry box, Flora enters his life and informs him that the best genies grant unlimited wishes (hello, Christmas), which leads to an on-demand camel, pizza, and Mona Lisa painting.
Flora, on the other hand, has been trapped in that box for longer than she realized — thousands of years and long enough to remember Jesus as “Mary’s kid.” As the two embark on a journey of what is no doubt Curtis’ quirky and beloved formula of self-discovery and chaos, the pair seem poised to discover the true meaning of the holiday.
Curtis’ screenplay for the film is based on his 1991 teleplay Bernard and the Genie, and is directed by Sam Boyd. Alan Cumming, Denée Benton, Luis Guzmán, Marc Maron, Jordyn McIntosh, Tate Ellington, and LaChanze also star in the film.
Last month, Curtis — who has written a host of romantic comedies including Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill — addressed the criticism his past films have recently faced and said he regrets his negative commentary about women’s bodies and lack of diversity in his work.
“I think I was behind, you know, behind the curve, and those jokes aren’t any longer funny,” he said. “So I don’t feel I was malicious at the time, but I think I was unobservant and not as, you know, as clever as I should have been.”
