Press Releases

NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS. Directed by David Wain (WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, ROLE MODELS) and written by Wain and longtime collaborator Ken Marino (THE STATE), the original comedy premiered to rave reviews at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and marks Sony Pictures Classics’ fourth acquisition out of the festival.

GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS, which was shot entirely on location in Los Angeles, stars Zoey Deutch (NOUVELLE VAGUE), Jon Hamm (MAD MEN), John Slattery (NUREMBERG), Ken Marino (THE RESIDENCE), Miles Gutierrez-Riley (SMILE 2), Ben Wang (KARATE KID: LEGENDS), Joe Lo Truglio (BROOKLYN NINE-NINE) and Sabrina Impacciatore (THE WHITE LOTUS), along with a cavalcade of celebrity cameos.

The film is produced by Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Ken Marino, David Wain, Crystine Zhang, and Charles Zhong. Executive producers include Robert Herjavec, Chechen Dong, Tom Griffin, Amanda Chang, Adrian Politowski, Jamie Canniffe, Franny Baldwin, Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm, and John Slattery.

Small town hairdresser Gail Daughtry is engaged to her devoted high school sweetheart, Tom.  Her life takes a turn when a trip to a book signing leads to Tom meeting – and sleeping – with his "celebrity pass." Reeling from the betrayal, Gail impulsively joins her friend Otto on a trip to Los Angeles, where a psychic convinces Gail that the only way to save her marriage is to "even the scales" with her own celebrity pass: Jon Hamm. Thus begins an epic journey through Tinseltown as Gail and Otto join forces with a talent agency assistant, a paparazzo, and actor John Slattery, all in the search for Hamm. Along the way, they collide with celebrities and are hunted by a group of Italian assassins as they get ever closer to finding the elusive star.

Additional notable film creatives include Director of Photography Kevin Atkinson (A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE), Production Designer Justin Lieb (STRANGER THAN FICTION), Editor John Daigle (PLUS ONE), Costume Designer Bryn Carter (A TREE FELL IN THE WOODS), and Composer Craig Wedren (SCHOOL OF ROCK).

Filmmaker Wain said, “I think we’re all hungry to have more movies in theaters that are designed to provide laughter and joy, first and foremost -- and I can’t wait for audiences to experience this very first chapter in the GDU (Gail Daughtry Universe)!”

“To have our film embraced by Sony Pictures Classics, a company that has championed visionary filmmakers for decades, is incredibly special. I am deeply grateful for their passion and support and excited to work together on this,” added producer Zhang.

“GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS is the most hilarious comedy we have seen in ages with one of the most incredible and surprising indie casts any film could ask for. In a time when audiences need to smile, David Wain has delivered an entertainment that will have audiences’ cheeks hurting from all their laughs,” said Sony Pictures Classics.

The deal was negotiated between Sony Pictures Classics and WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992—which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.  Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 42 Academy Awards^® (38 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 192 Academy Award^® nominations (166 at Sony Pictures Classics), including two nominations this year for BLUE MOON for Best Actor (Ethan Hawke) and Best Original Screenplay, as well as Best Picture nominations for I’M STILL HERE, THE FATHER, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.   

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services. http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.