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Vince Vaughn and Bill Lawrence reunite for ‘Bad Monkey’
A long-awaited collaboration
Vince Vaughn and Bill Lawrence have known each other for over 25 years, so when the opportunity to work together on the cop comedy Bad Monkey arose, Vaughn eagerly jumped on board. Reflecting on their collaboration, Vaughn shared, “We just laughed a lot. Bill has such good ideas and is very open to suggestions. It was an easy and enjoyable experience.”
The joy of working with friends and family
Bill Lawrence, known for his work on Spin City and Ted Lasso, has a penchant for collaborating with friends and family. At this stage in his career, he finds it incredibly rewarding to work with people he enjoys spending time with. This sentiment was evident as his daughter, singer-songwriter Charlotte Lawrence, joined him on the sand-colored carpet outside the Hammer Museum in Westwood.
Initially, Lawrence was hesitant about casting his daughter in the show, despite knowing she had the talent. “She’s a very confident young lady, but I started to worry about putting her in that position,” he explained. “Social media can be tough, but she’s handled it with grace. She was fantastic in the role, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If you ever get the chance to hire your friends or family, do it immediately.”
Reuniting with Zach Braff
Lawrence also brought back his Scrubs star Zach Braff for the new series. “I didn’t even cast him. I just said, ‘Yo, you want to play a doctor again, but this time it’s a bit darker?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, okay,'” Lawrence recalled. “I got so lonely in Florida, it was nice to have him around.”
The ensemble cast of ‘Bad Monkey’
The cast of Bad Monkey includes L. Scott Caldwell, Alex Moffat, Charlotte Lawrence, Natalie Martinez, Vince Vaughn, Meredith Hagner, Michelle Monaghan, Zach Braff, Rob Delaney, and Ronald Peet. The show follows Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been kicked out of the Miami Police Department and becomes a health inspector in the Florida Keys. When tourists fish a human arm out of the water, Yancy realizes that solving this murder mystery might be his ticket back onto the force.
A novel adaptation with a twist
Bad Monkey is based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name, which intrigued Vaughn with its unconventional tone. “I was looking for something with fun personalities, cool twists and turns, and characters going through unique experiences,” he explained.
Natalie Martinez’s personal connection
Natalie Martinez, who plays Yancy’s former co-worker at the police department, joined the project because she had long admired Vaughn. “He’s definitely one of our living legends in this genre. He’s brilliant at what he does. It’s an honor to go head-to-head with him,” Martinez said.
The role also allowed Martinez to showcase her Cuban American heritage and South Florida roots. “I was able to use my accent and incorporate elements that are true to me, which I usually have to suppress or change for other roles,” she said. “Playing someone so close to home was exciting. I relate deeply to the Cuban culture, even though I wasn’t born there. We need a voice too.”
Streaming details
The first two episodes of Bad Monkey will begin streaming on August 14 on Apple TV+, with new episodes released every Wednesday through October 9. For more information and to watch the trailer, visit Bad Monkey.
For cinema and TV series enthusiasts, Bad Monkey promises a blend of humor, mystery, and personal connections that make it a must-watch. The collaboration between Vince Vaughn and Bill Lawrence, along with a talented ensemble cast, ensures a captivating viewing experience. Don’t miss out on this exciting new series!
