Ramy Youssef and Sharon Stone Team Up for Wild A24 Comedy ‘Martha & Muhammad’

Ramy Youssef is making a major leap from acclaimed television comedy to feature filmmaking, and he is bringing one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars with him. Youssef is set to write, direct, and star opposite Sharon Stone in “Martha & Muhammad,” a new A24 comedy that promises to tackle religion, class, immigration, and an unlikely romance, with plenty of provocative material along the way.

The project marks Ramy Youssef’s feature directorial debut and is being produced and financed by A24. Production is expected to begin this fall, although no release date has been announced.

Sharon Stone and Ramy Youssef’s Unlikely Pairing

The premise alone makes “Martha & Muhammad” one of the more unexpected comedy projects currently in development.

The film follows a wealthy, white, widowed socialite living in New York who develops a relationship with a young Muslim man. Their romance becomes a vehicle for exploring the cultural and social tensions surrounding age, religion, immigration and economic class.

Ramy Youssef will play the young Muslim man, while Sharon Stone takes on the role of Martha, according to reports.

Pairing the 35-year-old comedian and filmmaker with Stone, the veteran star of “Basic Instinct” and “Casino,” creates an unusual generational dynamic that could become one of the film’s biggest talking points.

More casting details are expected as production approaches.

Ramy Youssef Takes His Biggest Career Leap

For Youssef, “Martha & Muhammad” represents the next major chapter in a career built around examining Muslim-American identity and contemporary American culture.

His acclaimed Hulu series “Ramy” became a breakout success, earning him a Golden Globe and multiple Emmy nominations. The series explored faith, family, relationships, and assimilation through the experiences of a young Muslim-American man.

Ramy Youssef has also expanded his creative résumé through stand-up and television directing. He directed the acclaimed “Honeydew” episode of “The Bear” and has continued working with A24 on several projects.

Now, he is taking complete creative control of his first feature film.

Youssef will produce “Martha & Muhammad” through his Cairo Cowboy banner. Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie will produce through Central, while Christopher Storer and Tyson Bidner will produce through American Light & Fixture.

A24 and Youssef Reunite

The movie also strengthens Ramy Youssef’s already substantial relationship with A24.

The studio has been involved with “Ramy,” as well as Youssef’s comedy specials “Feelings” and “More Feelings.” Youssef and A24 also collaborated on the animated series “#1 Happy Family USA.”

That history gives “Martha & Muhammad” an obvious creative home, particularly given A24’s reputation for backing unconventional stories and filmmaker-driven projects.

The film arrives at a time when questions surrounding Muslim-American identity, immigration and representation are increasingly prominent in American culture.

Sharon Stone Enters a New Chapter

Stone brings a very different kind of Hollywood history to the project.

The Oscar-nominated actress became an international star through films including “Basic Instinct” and “Casino,” and more recently has enjoyed a renewed presence on television and film.

She appeared in the latest season of HBO’s “Euphoria” and has several feature projects in various stages of production.

Her pairing with Youssef could give “Martha & Muhammad” a potent mix of established Hollywood star power and contemporary comedy.

With filming expected to begin this fall, “Martha & Muhammad” is already shaping up as one of A24’s most intriguing upcoming comedies and potentially Youssef’s boldest creative gamble yet.