DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 6, 2025--
Executive Producers of the hit TV show The Chosen, Chad Gundersen and Chris Juen, announce a history-making film project with producer Aaron Scotti ( The Peanut Butter Falcon ) from a script by writer/director/producer Chris Dowling ( Where Hope Grows ).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250605215000/en/
The groundbreaking feature, Monsters vs. Muncy, stars Zack Gottsagen ( The Peanut Butter Falcon ) and David DeSanctis ( Where Hope Grows ). It is the first buddy comedy to star two individuals with Down Syndrome. Lauren Potter ( Glee ) also stars in the film.
When two best friends, David (DeSanctis) and Josh (Gottsagen), discover a cadre of monsters invading their small town of Muncy, they rally their ragtag team to heroically battle the creatures in hopes to save the world from certain doom.
Monsters vs. Muncy has already garnered excitement and gained national support from several special needs organizations including Best Buddies and the National Down Syndrome Society.
"I truly do believe that people with disabilities are the real superheroes and as noted in the script, their hearts are their superpowers. Thank you for crafting a story that presents people with Down syndrome as intelligent, funny and capable leaders, but most importantly, as human beings. We look forward to supporting the film and helping spread awareness among our participants and supporters once it hits theaters." — Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Best Buddies International
A recent article noted "people with disabilities represent 28.8% of the viewing and purchasing audience in the U.S. (more than 70 million people), or about 16% of the world's population (1 billion people). In 2022, only 1.9% of speaking characters in the top 100 films had a disability according to a recent study." — Jan 27, 2025 https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/creatives-with-disabilities-building-careers-changing-industry-1236271242/
“We are doing something that has never been done before and are proud to have this amazing team and talented actors assembled. Representation is so important, and we look forward to finding other partners that see the vision and want to change the world with us through film.” — Chris Dowling, Writer/Director/Producer
The movie is set to shoot in Texas.
Zack Gottsagen is represented by Gary Ousdahl at Advanced Management. David DeSanctis is repped by Katie McGrath at Arise Artists Agency, and Lauren Potter is represented by Ray Hughes at rhm.
Out of Order Studios Moves Ahead with First Buddy Comedy Starring Actors with Down Syndrome
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a crowd of flag-waving New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.
Standing with his wife Masako and the rest of the royal family, he wished a happy new year to people lined up below the palace balcony, some shouting, “banzai" — Japanese for "long live.”
The annual New Year’s appearance by the emperor and his family draws huge crowds to the palace’s usually cloistered grounds in central Tokyo.
People stand in long lines, weathering the cold, for each of the five appearances during the day, as the imperial family remains relatively popular.
The emperor does not have political power but holds symbolic significance for Japan. He and his family are longtime advocates for peace, although World War II was fought in the name of Naruhito’s grandfather Hirohito.
In a statement released in advance, Naruhito noted that last year marked 80 years since the end of that war. He stressed the importance of the message of peace, given that war and strife continued in parts of the world.
“I deeply feel it’s important to continue with efforts among people for dialogue, trying to deepen mutual understanding, so we can build a world of peace,” he said in the statement.
In both the statement and comments Friday, he spoke about recent natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall and snow, and forest fires.
In 2024, the annual appearance was canceled because of a New Year’s Day quake in the Noto Peninsula, a coastal area in central Japan, which killed hundreds of people. In 2021 and 2022, it got canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Princess Aiko, the imperial couple's only child, appeared with her parents at this year’s greeting, as did other relatives. She is at the center of a national debate about rules allowing only men to inherit to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The presence of Naruhito’s nephew, Hisahito, also drew attention, as he now takes part in adult imperial events and is a possible heir to the throne. He is second in line after his father, the emperor’s brother.
Akihito, Naruhito’s father and emperor emeritus who abdicated in 2019, was also there with his wife Michiko, the emperor’s mother.
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama
Japan's Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, daughter and son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Emperor Naruhito greets well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
