‘Brazil Avenue’ Star Murilo Benício, ‘Turma da Mônica’s’ Kevin Vechiatto Board Smart Comedy ‘Nico’ From LB Entertainment, +Galeria (EXCLUSIVE)

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As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the upcoming comedy “Nico,” brought to us by LB Entertainment, the brilliant minds behind the globally acclaimed Netflix series “Sintonia.” The film will feature none other than Murilo Benício, a household name in Brazil thanks to his captivating performances in hit telenovelas like “The Clone,” “América,” and “Brazil Avenue.” Additionally, we have Kevin Vechiatto, who rose to fame as a part of Brazil’s most popular children’s franchise, “Turma da Mônica.” I can hardly wait for this promising collaboration!

Under the joint production of LB Entertainment and Galeria, “Nico” is set to be released in Brazil through Galeria’s distribution network.

Numerous Brazilian comedies have been hugely successful, serving as platforms for well-known TV comedians to showcase their humor. However, “Nico’s” comedy stands out as a narrative-driven comedy that carries a significant emotional weight and is relatable to a wide audience. This was noted by LB Entertainment producer Felipe Braga during his conversation with EbMaster.

Benício and Vechiatto take on the roles of estranged family members, Márcio (father) and Nico (son), who haven’t communicated for quite some time. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they find themselves compelled to share a tight space in a car for a 30-hour long journey without any prior notice.

“Nico, a teenager, is always found online and doesn’t have any friends in the physical world.”
“Márcio”, once a comedian, currently lacks employment and struggles to amuse even his own son, someone he had not been able to make laugh before.

They’ll learn to adjust by relying on one another initially for cohabitation and later for engaging with their environment,” the summary suggests.

Benício characterizes Márcio as “a 50-year-old man who had his time and is currently experiencing a midlife crisis,” according to Vechiatto’s statement.

Regarding Benício, Nico is often perceived as a “studious type.” In the movie, we follow the story of a thoughtful 17-year-old who grapples with the intricacies of life, and it’s accurate to say he can feel overwhelmed by it at times. He tends to spend most of his time in his room. Vechiatto explained this while also speaking in character.

According to Braga, “Nico” is a heartfelt comedy. He describes it as a tale about two hilarious characters embarking on a journey, which involves both emotional and physical travel as they navigate roads towards their endpoint. Along this voyage, a father and son must learn to lower their defenses and understand the world through each other’s eyes.

Though the tale can be tender at moments, it primarily follows the life of a witty stand-up comedian and his sardonic offspring. The majority of the humor in this narrative stems from their engaging dialogues,” he noted.

LB Entertainment is recognized for its collaboration with a fresh wave of new creators and screenwriters, spearheaded by internet sensation Kondzilla, who jointly created and co-directed “Sintonia.” LB’s portfolio boasts trailblazing projects such as the Netflix Brazil half-hour comedy “Samantha!” and “Lov3” for Amazon Prime Video. These productions have helped establish LB’s reputation for fostering innovative storytelling alongside up-and-coming talents.

Braga mentioned that they’ve collaborated with numerous gifted young screenwriters on both Amazon and Netflix series. Intrigued by the idea, they contemplated what it would be like if skilled storytellers with the ability to construct an ambitious narrative for a script were given the task of writing a comedy movie.

According to Braga, “Nico’s” writer Filipe Serra played a significant role in fostering a fresh culture of comedy. Notably, he was one of the principal writers on the hit series “Lov3,” which bagged the Brazilian Writer’s Guild Award for the Best Comedy Series.

The movie is also modern and daring,” Braga continued, “it isn’t shy about poking fun at complex, contentious topics that are divisive in our society, such as politics.

The São Paulo Paulo Gustavo grant was awarded to ‘Nico,’ establishing a solid financial foundation for the production of the film.

Producer Rita Moraes of LB Entertainment expressed that we’ve developed a script which is both potent and uncomplicated. She mentioned that instead of just a short independent movie, we could potentially transform this excellent material into a commercially viable film, provided we can secure the right star talent.

Benicio’s role signifies we’re delving into a genre cherished by Brazilian viewers – comedy – but with a bold and unconventional script. Including Murilo, a familiar and well-loved talent, significantly boosts our chances of appealing to an even wider demographic.

Director Mariana Youssef oversaw the production of three episodes for “Lov3”, served as the lead director for “The Followers” on Paramount+, and in 2022 took charge of directing “Teenage Kiss: The Future is Dead” for Max, a project she also co-created.

In Moraes’ words, “Nico is a tale exploring masculinity, featuring two male characters inside a vehicle. Thus, we sought out a promising, gifted female director, a powerful female perspective like Mariana, who has extensive knowledge and skill in directing.

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2025-01-16 15:57