Former Honorary Mayor Billy Crystal Stars in ‘Here Today’

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Former Co-Honorary Mayor of the Palisades Billy Crystal can be seen in “Here Today,” an American comedy directed and produced by Crystal himself, from a screenplay co-written by Alan Zweibel.

News of the comedic film was first released in September 2019 when it was announced that Crystal would team up with actress Tiffany Haddish to produce and co-star in “Here Today.” The two are joined by a star-studded cast comprised of Penn Badgley, Sharon Stone, Kevin Kline, Laura Benanti, Barry Levinson and more.

The film follows veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Crystal) and New York street singer Emma Payge (Haddish) as the two form an “unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust,” according to IMDb.

“The on-screen relationship between Billy and Tiffany is achingly funny and incredibly profound,” said producer Fred Bernstein in an interview with Deadline. “They remind us that the bonds of friendship and family can help us get through almost anything. We could not be more proud to present Billy’s telling of this story so vividly brought to life through the incredible performances of this talented cast.”

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Crystal said he was looking to do a movie about a relationship between an older man and younger woman that was about friendship and love, but not in a romantic way.

“It was an interesting place to start a story,” he said. Crystal added that Haddish was “great to act with, and a joy to direct.”

Crystal is a six-time Emmy winner and three-time Golden Globe nominee. The film marks his eighth time directing, and his return to a directorial feature project since his 2001 sports drama titled “61*.” His previous directorials include “Mr. Saturday Night” and “Forget Paris.”

The film, which is rated PG-13, was picked up by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ Stage 6 Films this April and is slated to open in theaters nationwide on Friday, May 7.