EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Eliezer Karas (Acapulco) has come aboard to direct Suburban Kings, a coming-of-age film penned by Peter Hoare (Kevin Can Wait), to be produced by Chris Mangano (Mangano Movies & Media), Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge (To The Stars Media), and Stan Spry (Evoke Entertainment).
The film follows Wolfgang Binder, a rebellious, skateboarding-obsessed 13-year-old, who is hellbent on spending the summer of ’99 cheering up his best friend after the tragic, unexpected death of his mother.
“This movie is an ode to my youth, to amazing lifelong friendships that were formed through skateboarding in the suburbs, to an overall culture that helped shape a lasting DIY spirit that I cherish,” said Hoare. “And to have the awesome Tom DeLonge behind this, someone who created a lot of the music that served as the literal soundtrack to those days… I couldn’t possibly be happier to make this one. If you keep your eyes open, there are indelible life lessons to be learned everywhere. If at first you don’t succeed – in skateboarding, as in life – get up, brush yourself off, work even harder… land that shit.”
Known for directing and exec producing Apple’s Acapulco, Karas’ other TV directing credits include Abbott Elementary, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Superstore, Ghosts, and Workaholics. His feature work includes the SXSW tennis comedy Break Point and Netflix’s The Main Event. He is also a go-to director for Netflix’s stand-up comedy, having helmed specials with Bill Burr, Ali Wong, and Tom Segura. He is repped by Verve and The Nacelle Company.
Hoare is known for writing the Tribeca dramedy Standing Up, Falling Down, starring Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz, Karas’ The Main Event and the comedy Killing Hasselhoff, as well as for his work on CBS’ Kevin Can Wait. Other upcoming projects include Student Driver at Netflix and Family Jewels, a holiday comedy starring Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler, for New Republic Pictures. He is repped by Verve, Kailey Marsh at Five Line, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.
Mangano’s recent credits include What We Do Next, Don’t Tell a Soul, and Standing Up, Falling Down. He also exec produced the Sam Raimi horror series 50 States of Fright, as well as The Polka King starring Jack Black and Match starring Patrick Stewart.
Credits for DeLonge, frontman of rock band blink-182 and founder of the CAA-repped To The Stars, include Monsters of California, Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker, and the hit docuseries Unidentified. Currently, he’s producing animated series Breaking Bear for Tubi.
Spry’s production and management company Evoke Entertainment is also behind Breaking Bear and reps the likes of Harland Williams and Danielle Fishel.
