Maybe I Do (2023) Production Notes

With a star-studded ensemble cast, Maybe I Do stars Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey and William H. Macy in a multi-generational romantic comedy. Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey) have reached the point in their relationship to take the next steps toward marriage. Thinking it is a good idea to invite their parents to finally meet, they set a dinner and make it a family affair. To everyone’s surprise, the affair takes on a whole new meaning as the parents already know each other all too well - they’ve been cheating on their spouses for months…with each other. Trapped in this precarious predicament, they try to hide their dalliances from the kids while confronting their spouse’s lovers head-on. Let the games begin!

Please note: Some production notes may contain spoilers.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

After a career of writing and producing over 700 episodes of television, two plays on Broadway, one Off-Broadway and one movie which was nominated for Best Picture, I wanted to write a screenplay about what I felt was the most important aspect of my life. I married one woman and have stayed married to one woman for 38 years. No matter what ups and downs we experienced on our road together, I never once felt that I wouldn’t eventually be buried next to this woman. I watched friends whose marriages I believed to be just as solid as mine crumble and fall apart. I’ve listened to husbands’ disappointments about their wives and wives’ bitter realizations that their lives have been ruined by these husbands. In listening to these stories of wrong decisions and ruined lives, I always knew this was a spectacular source for comedy and finally I’ve had enough life experience to write it correctly.

This was confirmed in the writing process as I found myself laughing out loud as I got to understand these characters and their deep frustrations borne of reaching the age of realization that we can count to the years left and we begin to question the best use of them. Moment after moment seemed not only truthful, but universally relatable in exploring the value of marriage and why we do this to ourselves. So, I was never worried about how funny this was or the joy an audience would have as the relationships were revealed and unraveled as the inevitable confrontations brought out what these characters needed to do to find their best lives. What struck me most were the moments I began laughing so hard at the situation the characters fell into, that tears came to my eyes, and then realized I wasn’t laughing at all.

It is my hope that Maybe I Do balances real moments of comedy with authentic moments of heart. As we take on love vs marriage and hope one survives the other, giving our audience something to talk about with the people they’ve chosen to love.

Michael Jacobs

FILMMAKER BIO

MICHAEL JACOBS | Director/Screenplay
Michael Jacobs is an American creator, writer, and producer whose work has appeared on Broadway, Off Broadway, Television and Film. He has created, produced, written and developed several television series including Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Charles in Charge, My Two Dads, The Torkelsons, and Girl Meets World. His television shows have won the Emmy and People Choice Awards. He was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award for Best Film for producing the 1994 motion picture, Quiz Show, which also won the New York Film Critics Circle Award.

CAST BIOS

EMMA ROBERTS | “Michelle”
Emma Roberts is an undeniable talent who has amassed an impressive film and television career over the course of over a decade.

In August 2021, it was announced that Roberts signed a first-look partnership with Hulu to develop and create compelling television series under her production banner, Belletrist TV. This collaboration focuses on adaptations of books with her Belletrist book club co-founder Karah Preiss, serving as executive producer, and the club’s director of development Matt Matruski, producing. Based on Carola Lovering’s novel of the same name, the first project developed is TELL ME LIES, a twisted, modern love story about ‘Lucy Albright’ (Grace Van Patten) and ‘Stephen DeMarco’ (Jackson White) and their tumultuous relationship as it unfolds over the course of eight-years. The series premiered on the streaming platform on September 7, 2022 with recurring episodes dropping weekly.

Additionally, Roberts serves as an executive producer, alongside Priess under their Belletrist TV banner, on the YA vampire drama, FIRST KILL. The eight-episode series is based on the short story by best-selling author Victoria "V.E." Schwab, and follows ‘Juliette’ (Sarah Catherine Hook), a teenage vampire who is out to make her “first kill.” Netflix released the show on June 10, 2022.

Roberts recently wrapped production on Marvel’s MADAME WEB, the Spider-Man spin-off which centers on a clairvoyant mutant (Dakota Johnson) who specializes in predicting the future of Spider-themed superheroes. Sony will release the film on July 7, 2023.

Next, Roberts will begin production on Director Frank Coraci’s VERONA SPIES, for which she will star as the titular character, opposite Geoffrey Rush. The story will follow ‘Verona’ (Roberts) who is mistakenly hired as an assassin to seduce a pharmaceutical executive and steal his formula for a revolutionary new drug. When she meets her target instead of killing him, they decide to team up as Big Pharma.

Upcoming, Roberts will serve as an executive producer as well star in SPACE CADET, a romantic comedy from Stampede Ventures. Written and directed by Liz W. Garcia, who will also executive produce, the story follows a Florida party girl, ‘Rex’ (Roberts), who finds herself being the last hope for NASA after she fumbles her way into the space training program. Production will soon begin later this year.

Roberts starred in Vertical Entertainment and Three Point Capital’s, ABANDONED. Directed by Spencer Squire, the thriller follows a mother (Roberts), father (John Gallagher Jr.), and infant son as they move into a remote farmhouse, which harbors a dark, tragic history. The film was released in theaters on June 17, 2022.

Previously, Roberts starred opposite Luke Bracey in Netflix’s film HOLIDATE, directed by John Whitesell. The romantic comedy followed two strangers who are fed up with the pressures of holiday dating and make a deal to be each other’s designated “holidate” over the course of an entire year. The streaming platform released the film in October 2020. Upcoming, Roberts will reunite with Bracy in the multi-generational, romantic comedy, MAYBE I DO. The story follows ‘Michelle’ (Roberts) and ‘Allen’ (Bracey) who are thinking about marriage and decide to invite their parents to meet for the first time in order to understand why marriage works. Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, and William H. Macy will also star. Further, Roberts rejoined “Holidate” screenwriter Tiffany Paulsen in the romantic comedy, ABOUT FATE. The film follows two people who believe to be in love but seem to never be able to find its true meaning. The picture released in theaters on September 9, 2022 by United Artists Releasing.

Roberts took on leading roles in multiple seasons of Ryan Murphy’s anthology television series, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, for FX. In 2013, she appeared in the third installment, COVEN, as ‘Madison,’ a party-girl teen witch who attends a special institution devoted to training and educating the few remaining witches to keep their coven from extinction. In 2014, Roberts appeared in the fourth installment, FREAK SHOW, playing fortune-teller, ‘Maggie Esmeralda,’ in a circus of misfits and deformities. Roberts reprised her character ‘Madison’ in the eighth season, APOCALYPSE, which was known as the eagerly anticipated crossover between the previous MURDER HOUSE and COVEN seasons. In 2019, Roberts returned for the series’ ninth season, 1984, as ‘Brooke Thompson’, an innocent young woman who has a fascination over serial killers. Both AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN and AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW received Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Limited Series.”

In 2019, Roberts starred in PARADISE HILLS, the directorial debut of Spanish helmer Alice Waddington. Also starring Eiza Gonzalez and Danielle Macdonald, the sci-fi thriller follows ‘Uma’ (Roberts) as she wakes up in a high-class treatment facility on an isolated tropical island where well-off families send their daughters to become perfect versions of their selves. The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on November 1, 2019.

In May 2018, Roberts appeared in WHO WE ARE NOW for writer/director Matthew Newton. The film had its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and was also a selection of the 2018 South by Southwest Festival. In April 2018, Roberts co-starred in director and writer Sam Boyd’s IN A RELATIONSHIP, opposite Michael Angarano. Based on Boyd’s short film of the same name, it is a film about the things that come between young people, what they fight about, and what they are afraid of. The film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.

In March 2017, Roberts can previously be seen in the horror-thriller, THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER, from writer-director Osgood Perkins, which centers around two young women in an all-girls boarding school, played by Roberts and Kiernan Shipka, who are haunted by an evil force. The film premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and was released by A24 Films. In July 2016, Roberts starred opposite Dave Franco in the Lionsgate cyber-thriller NERVE, from directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman and adapted from the 2012 novel by Jeanne Ryan.

From 2015-2016, Roberts portrayed ‘Chanel Oberlin’ in the FOX comedy-horror series SCREAM QUEENS for two seasons. From the minds of “Glee” creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Flachuk, and Ian Brennan, the series also starred Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, and Abigail Breslin.

In September 2015, Roberts co-starred alongside Mickey Rourke and Nat Wolff in the indie feature ASHBY, written and directed by Tony McNamara. The film premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. She also appeared opposite James Franco and Zachary Quinto in I AM MICHAEL, based-off The New York Times Magazine article entitled “My Ex-Gay Friend,” which initially premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

In May 2014, Roberts starred in Gia Coppola’s directorial debut PALO ALTO. In the coming-of-age story, Roberts played a high school student who begins a questionable relationship with her soccer coach, played by James Franco. The film originally premiered at the 2013 Venice International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival and was released in theaters by Tribeca Film. In February 2014, Roberts took on the lead role in the IFC indie film ADULT WORLD, directed by Scott Coffey, as an aspiring young poet who is forced to take a job at an adult bookstore due to the bad economy. The film initially premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013 and John Cusack, Evan Peters and Cloris Leachman co-star.

In August 2013, Roberts starred in Warner Bros.’ summer hit comedy WE’RE THE MILLERS with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis, from director Rawson Marshall Thurber. In the comedy, Sudeikis’ character assembles a fake family to smuggle a large shipment of pot across the Mexican border. Roberts played a tough street girl who is transformed into his daughter by masquerading as an all-American, preppy young woman. The following month, Roberts played the love interest of Liam Hemsworth in Lionsgate’s EMPIRE STATE, a crime drama directed by Dito Montiel.

Roberts starred in Dimension Films’ fourth installment revival of the SCREAM franchise for director Wes Craven, joining original cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. Roberts portrayed ‘Jill,’ the cousin of Campbell, who was the new girl in a small town. Audiences were shocked to discover Roberts’ sweet girl-next-door character turned out to be the killer.

In October 2010, Roberts played the role of ‘Noelle’ in the critically acclaimed Focus Features production, IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY, opposite Zach Galifianakis and Viola Davis, for directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden. Roberts also starred in the indie film VIRGINIA opposite Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. The film is directed by Dustin Lance Black (Oscar winner for “Milk”) and executive produced by Gus Van Sant.

In February 2010, Roberts co-starred alongside Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Carter Jenkins, and Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy VALENTINE’S DAY. Jenkins and Roberts re-teamed, after sharing the screen in UNFABULOUS, to play a young couple who are contemplating whether to take a crucial step in their relationship. The film was directed by Gary Marshall and released by Warner Bros.

In 2009, Roberts headlined the DreamWorks hit film HOTEL FOR DOGS as one of two orphaned street kids who convert an old-abandoned hotel into an elaborate fantastical place for stray dogs. Lisa Kudrow and Don Cheadle co-star and the film grossed over $113 million dollars worldwide.

In Summer 2007, Roberts starred as the titular character in NANCY DREW, a big-screen adaptation of the classic teenage detective novels for Warner Bros. The film was directed by Andrew Fleming and produced by Jerry Weintraub. That same year, Roberts was honored as the “ShoWest Female Star of Tomorrow.” Roberts also appeared in the Fox 2000 film AQUAMARINE in 2006, based on the Alice Hoffman novel that tells the story of two teen girls who discover a mermaid after their coastal town is ravaged by a hurricane. The film was directed by Elizabeth Allan and produced by Susan Cartsonis.

From 2004-2007, Roberts played ‘Addie Singer’ in the Nickelodeon hit comedy series UNFABULOUS, created by Sue Rose. It was one of the highest rated “tween” series on television at the time, telling the story of a teenage girl dealing with the trials of growing up, fitting in, and being popular.

Upon landing her very first audition, Roberts booked the role of Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz’s daughter in BLOW, which was directed by the late Ted Demme for New Line Cinema. Soon after, she starred in the Sundance short film BIG LOVE, directed by Leif Tilden and starring Sam Rockwell. Roberts went on to play one of the lead roles in the independent feature film GRAND CHAMPION, opposite Joey Lauren Adams, for director Barry Tubb.

Additional film credits include LITTLE ITALY opposite Hayden Christensen, Gavin Wiesen’s THE ART OF GETTING BY with Freddie Highmore and Michael Angarano, CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER opposite Rashida Jones, Noel Clark’s thriller 4.3.2.1., Joel Schumacher’s TWELVE; LYMELIFE, produced by Martin Scorcese, and THE WINNING SEASON opposite Sam Rockwell. In 2019, Roberts lent her voice as ‘Wedgehead’ in the animated feature UGLYDOLLS, a story about acceptance, diversity, joy and friendship that was released by STX Entertainment in May 2019.

Originally from New York, Roberts currently resides in Los Angeles.

LUKE BRACEY | “Allen”
LUKE BRACEY is establishing himself as a leading man defined by his versatile performances, innate curiosity, and personal charisma, exemplified by the success of his lead role in Netflix's original feature film HOLIDATE – which hit #1 for the streamer in 78 countries, was seen by over 68 million households, and ranks among their most-watched films of all time.

Bracey plays real-life character 'Jerry Schilling,’ alongside an all-star cast led by Tom Hanks, in Baz Luhrmann’s Warner Bros. feature centering on the life of Elvis Presley, which was released in June 2022. That same month, he also led Netflix’s action-drama INTERCEPTOR, a two-hander between Bracey and Elsa Pataky and produced by Chris Hemsworth.

Up next, Bracey will star in the film adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel ONE TRUE LOVES with Phillipa Soo & Simu Liu, as well as romantic comedy MAYBE I DO which reunites him with co-star Emma Roberts for a second time and also features Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, and William H. Macy.

Previously, Bracey starred alongside Olivia Munn and Justin Theroux in Justine Bateman’s independent feature VIOLET, which received acclaim when it first premiered at SXSW, and he appeared in Hulu’s Emmy-nominated limited series LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE opposite Reese Witherspoon. He also led Roger Avary’s LUCKY DAY alongside Nina Dobrev, as well as the Australian indie DANGER CLOSE about the Battle of Long Tan.

Bracey impressed audiences with a standout performance as the hard-nosed and aggressive soldier 'Smitty' in the Academy Award-nominated World War II drama HACKSAW RIDGE, alongside Andrew Garfield, for director Mel Gibson. He combined his passions for surfing and acting by taking on the iconic role of ‘Johnny Utah’ in the big-budget Warner Bros. remake of the cult classic POINT BREAK, which saw lots of success internationally, with notable numbers in China's box-office. Bracey also starred in the film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel THE BEST OF ME and went up against Pierce Brosnan in THE NOVEMBER MAN, both for Relativity. Bracey first gained attention for playing the heartthrob in Fox 2000’s MONTE CARLO opposite Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester, as well as the coveted role of ‘Cobra Commander’ in Paramount’s mega-franchise GI JOE: RETALIATION.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Bracey grew up an avid surfer and sportsman. He studied at The Scots College in Bellevue Hill where he fell in love with entertaining and performance.

WILLIAM H. MACY | “Sam”
William H. Macy is an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, an Emmy and SAG Award winning actor, and a writer in theater, film, and television. Most recently he was in the Hulu mini-series THE DROPOUT and starred in the Showtime series SHAMELESS, for which he was nominated twice for a Best Actor Emmy Award and has won twice for the SAG Award. Macy's film credits include SEABISCUIT, THE COOLER, MAGNOLIA, BOOGIE NIGHTS, JURASSIC PARK III, FARGO, TNT'S DOOR TO DOOR, WILD HOGS, and ROOM. William H. Macy made his feature directorial debut with RUDDERLESS, the closing film at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. THE LAYOVER, his second film, was released in 2017 followed by his third film, KRYSTAL, in April of 2018. In addition, Macy is a founding member of the Atlantic Theater Company.

RICHARD GERE | “Howard”
Humanitarian, actor, producer and Golden Globe winner, Richard Gere is known for his roles in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, Breathless, Pretty Woman, First Knight, Primal Fear, Chicago, Unfaithful, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, The Cotton Club, Shall We Dance and Internal Affairs.

For his most recent project, Gere starred as Max in the psycho-thriller, MotherFatherSon, an eight-part series which aired on BBC Two. The series was created and written by Tom Rob Smith. He also just wrapped production on the film MAYBE I DO alongside Diane Keaton. Other upcoming projects include THE MAKING OF and LONGING.

Gere’s most recent film credits include Three Christs, co-starring Peter Dinklage, Walton Goggins and Bradley Whitford; and The Dinner, which was based on a novel written by Herman Koch. He also starred in Joseph Cedar’s film Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer, co-starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, and Steve Buscemi. In 2015, he appeared in Andrew Renzi’s The Benefactor, alongside Dakota Fanning and Theo James.

Among his recent projects are the highly acclaimed art house film Time Out of Mind, directed by Oren Moverman; and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, directed by John Madden. Gere also appeared with Susan Sarandon in Arbitrage, directed by Nicolas Jarecki which brought him his second Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

In 2009, he starred in and produced Lasse Hallström’s Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, based on the true story of a college professor’s bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home. In the same year, he starred in Brooklyn’s Finest alongside Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke.

In 2007, he starred in Lasse Hallström's critically praised film The Hoax based on the true story of Clifford Irving (Gere) who sells his bogus biography of Howard Hughes to a premiere publishing house in the early 1970s. In 2007, Mr. Gere appeared as one of the seven Bob Dylans in Todd Haines’ highly acclaimed I’m Not There. The all-star cast included Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale and Heath Ledger.

In 2003, Gere won his first Golden Globe Award as Best Actor for his portrayal of the infamous tap dancing lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago.

Mr. Gere has won numerous humanitarian awards acknowledging his commitment to human and civil rights, health, education and the plight of those disenfranchised everywhere. For the last two decades, he has served as Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet.

DIANE KEATON | “Grace”
Since her screen debut in Lovers and Other Strangers, Diane Keaton has proven to be an extremely versatile actress, director and producer. Her acting career spans over twenty-five movie greats, including The Godfather Trilogy, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Annie Hall, for which she received a best actress Academy Award, and the smash hits Father of the Bride and The First Wives Club. Ms. Keaton also received Academy Award nominations for her role in the film Something’s Gotta Give, Reds and for her poignant performance in Marvin’s Room. Thus, making history as the only actress to have had an Academy Award nomination once in every decade.

Ms. Keaton has also received praise as a director, beginning with her work on Heaven and culminating with the critically acclaimed Unstrung Heroes.

Ms. Keaton won the Golden Globe for her performance in Something’s Gotta Give, written and directed by Nancy Meyers, and co-starring, Jack Nicholson. She also received National Board of Review award for this performance.

As a producer, she is proud to have worked with Gus Van Sant on his critically acclaimed film, Elephant, which won the Palm d’Or at the Cannes film festival. She has starred in and executive produced the Lifetime TV movie, On Thin Ice, which dealt with a mother’s methamphetamine addiction for which she won a Prism Award for her compelling performance. She directed and executive produced, the TV pilot Pasadena for Fox Television. She has also directed and co-starred in Hanging Up, with Meg Ryan, Lisa Kudrow and Walter Matthau, and contributed performances to The Other Sister, directed by Garry Marshall. She starred in Because I Said So and Mad Money opposite Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes.

She edited a book which showcases her collection of amateur clown paintings, for Lookout and Powerhouse books, entitled Clown Paintings. Her fifth published book with Rizzoli is titled Casa Romantica.

Shifting effortlessly from comedy to drama and back again, Diane Keaton continues to captivate and delight her audiences with every project she devotes herself to.

SUSAN SARANDON | “Monica”
The extremely versatile SUSAN SARANDON brings her own brand of sex appeal and intelligence to every role – from her fearless portrayal of Annie Savoy in Bull Durham to her Oscar®-nominated performances in Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo’s Oil, The Client, and Atlantic City to her Academy Award®-winning and SAG® Award-winning role as Sister Helen, a nun consoling a death-row inmate in Dead Man Walking.

Sarandon made her acting debut in the movie Joe in 1970, which she followed with a continuing role in the TV drama A World Apart. Early film credits include The Great Waldo Pepper, Lovin’ Molly, Billy Wilder’s The Front Page, the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby. She went on to receive her first Oscar nomination in Malle’s Atlantic City.

Additional film credits include The Hunger, The Witches of Eastwick, A Dry White Season, White Palace, Light Sleeper, Bob Roberts, Little Women, Stepmom, Cradle Will Rock, Igby Goes Down, The Banger Sisters, Moonlight Mile, Shall We Dance?, Alfie, Elizabethtown, Romance & Cigarettes, Enchanted, The Lovely Bones, Jeff Who Lives at Home, Robot & Frank, Arbitrage, Tammy, The Meddler, Blackbird, and The Jesus Rolls.

The hard-working actress has made a career of choosing diverse and challenging projects in film as well as television, having received an Emmy® and Golden Globe® Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in Limited Series or Movie for her portrayal of Bette Davis in Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Bette & Joan opposite Jessica Lange in 2017. In 2008, she received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries for her role in the HBO film Bernard and Doris, as well as a Golden Globe and SAG nomination. She also received an Emmy and SAG nomination for her work in Barry Levinson’s You Don't Know Jack with Al Pacino for HBO.

Sarandon has made guest appearances on Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, ER, 30 Rock, The Big C, Doll & Em, Mike & Molly, Search Party, and in the Mother Lover video on Saturday Night Live. As well as, lent her voice to numerous animation projects including The Simpsons, James and the Giant Peach, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, April and the Extraordinary World, Hell and Back, Spark: A Space Tail, Skylanders Academy, and Rick and Morty.

Most recently Sarandon plays Dottie Cantrell Roman in FOX’s musical drama Monarch. Upcoming projects include Michael Jacobs’ Maybe I Do and DC Film’s Blue Beetle.