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As the world adjusts to the new normal of life with COVID-19, more and more films are moving from theatrical releases to steaming services. One of the big players in that space is HBO Max, which just released the first trailer for Superintelligence, an upcoming comedy about the surveillance state starring Melissa McCarthy and Bobby Cannavale.
This film marks McCarthy’s fourth collaboration with her husband Ben Falcone, who previously directed his wife in Tammy (2014), The Boss (2016), and Life of the Party (2018), all of which the couple co-wrote together. Superintelligence, however, was written by Steve Mallory, who was also a credited writer on The Boss alongside the couple.
According to the film’s official synopsis: “Nothing extraordinary ever happens to Carol Peters, so when she starts getting snarky backtalk from her TV, phone and microwave, she thinks she is being punked or losing her mind. In fact, the world’s first superintelligence has selected her for observation, taking over her life… with a bigger, more ominous plan to take over everything. Now Carol is humanity’s last chance to prove that people are worth saving.”
Alongside Melissa McCarthy, Superintelligence also stars James Corden as the voice of Super Intelligence, who reveals it is monitoring Carol as part of a plan to decide whether to destroy humanity or not. The film also features Atlanta star Bryan Tyree Henry, Veep actor Sam Richardson, Deadpool’s Karan Soni, and Jean Smart, who plays the President of the United States.
During a recent interview with People, McCarthy said the film is about “technology’s dominance over our lives, but also is a lovely reminder that people may be flawed but they’re still worth saving.”
The actress went on to add that starring in the film resulted in her acting opposite nobody for days on end. “I spent weeks and weeks talking to inanimate objects,” she said. “I just never thought I’d be able to say, ‘I had the loveliest chat with a toaster oven today.‘”
This is just the latest starring role for Melissa McCarthy, who has been dominating the comedy scene for years now. Following her breakout performance in 2011’s blockbuster comedy Bridesmaids, the actress became a big box office name with hits including Identity Thief with Jason Bateman and The Heat with Sandra Bullock.
But McCarthy’s career isn’t just mindless laughs. In 2018, when she starred in Marielle Heller’s dark comedy Can You Ever Forgive Me?, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Superintelligence will be available to stream on HBO Max beginning on November 26.