Taraji P. Henson arrives on the comedy scene for the February 8, 2019 release of ‘What Men Want’ (with co-star Tracy Morgan). This will be Taraji’s first feature comedy debut, ‘I wanna laugh,’ she says, ‘I have been Cookie for so long. In my movies, I have been like, the distressed single Mom with something horrible happening to me. I just wanna have some fun.’
The Paramount Players, BET Films and Will Packer Production (Girls Trip, Ride Along) is a spin-off based on the early version of Mel Gibson’s ‘What Women Want’ (2000).
The film follows successful and driven sports agent, Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) who is constantly boxed out by her male colleagues. When she is passed up for a well-deserved promotion at work, she contemplates what it would take for her to get her due recognition. In a spontaneous turn of events, Ali is gifted with ability to hear men’s thoughts. In a race to sign the next basketball superstar, she will go to great lengths, putting both her friendships and new love interest (Aldis Hodge) to the test.
Directed by Adam Shankman and written by Nancy Meyers, Taraji was regarded as a perfect fit for the film,
“They knew I was funny, but they did not know I had the physicality of comedy,” Taraji said of studio execs, ‘There’s funny, and then there’s Jack Tripper funny – the slapstick, falling over the chair…I don’t think people knew that. So that’s what’s going to be the most surprising to my fans. Yeah they know I’m funny, but the physical comedy, you can’t really teach that.”
Joining Taraji P. Henson on the cast are Tracy Morgan, Tamala Jones, Phoebe Robinson, Shane Paul McGhie, Ashani Roberts, Deja Dee and more – with Shaquille O’ Neal and Erykah Badu sharing minor roles.
Filmed in Atlanta, ‘What Men Want’ will be released in theaters early next year.
