The trailer for The Big Sick arrived earlier this week and it appears it may be this summer’s breakout indie hit. Having already made waves earlier this year with its premiere at the Sundance and South by Southwest Film Festivals, the rom-com starring Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan hits theaters for a limited release in June followed by a nationwide roll-out in July.
The Big Sick is a semi-autobiographical telling of Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon’s relationship. In the trailer, Nanjiani (playing a version of himself) and Kazan (playing his real-life wife Emily) can be seen as they begin a romantic relationship together and likewise soon face a few complications including cultural difficulties with family and friends. When Emily falls ill and is put into a medically-induced coma, Nanjiani must deal with her parents (Ray Romano and Holly Hunter), now in town to care for their ailing daughter.
The Big Sick, which also features performances from comedians Bo Burnham, Kurt Braunohler and Aidy Bryant, was written by Nanjiani and Gordon. The film was directed by Michael Showalter (The Baxter and Hello, My Name Is Doris) and produced by Judd Apatow (Funny People, This Is 40) and Barry Mendel, the former two having previously collaborated on an episode of the Netflix comedy series Love.
January saw Amazon acquire U.S. distribution rights to The Big Sick for $12 million at Sundance, following a heated bidding war. The company is teaming with Lionsgate for the film’s release, which will see it hit theaters on June 23.