“Fleabag” and “100 Foot Wave” producer Joe Lewis is backing the London transfer of off-Broadway hit “Invasive Species,” with his company Amplify Pictures coming aboard as co-producer for the play’s September run at King’s Head Theatre.
Eric Kuhn Productions has revealed that Lewis, CEO of the independent studio behind HBO Max’s Emmy-winning “100 Foot Wave” and Prime Video and BBC’s “Fleabag,” will join lead producers Eric Kuhn and Adam Rodner on Maia Novi’s semi-autobiographical play. The production’s roster of co-producers including “Six” co-creator Lucy Moss, Salem Productions, John Voege, Amauta M. Firmino and María Inés Olmedo Projects.
The collaboration marks another chapter in Lewis and Kuhn’s successful partnership, which previously brought Tony Award-winning musical “A Strange Loop” to Broadway in 2022. More recently, Amplify Pictures co-produced the Tony-nominated “Gutenberg! The Musical!” starring Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, as well as Julia Randalls’ off-Broadway dark comedy “Dilaria” featuring Ella Stiller, Chiara Aurelia and Christopher Briney.
“Invasive Species” debuted in New York last year where it created considerable buzz. Novi crafted the work around her own experiences as an Argentine performer chasing Hollywood dreams. The story tracks an immigrant actor willing to risk her sanity for a shot at American cinema stardom. Novi will reprise the lead role in London alongside Harrison Osterfield, known for his breakout role in Netflix’s “The Irregulars.” The cast also includes Ella Blackburn, Max Percy and Kalifa Taylor.
“‘Invasive Species’ is fearless, hilarious, and beautifully risky, and exactly the kind of bold new work Amplify wants to champion in live entertainment,” Lewis said. “We’re honored to help bring Maia Novi’s play to London and to once again partner with our longtime collaborator Eric Kuhn on another remarkable production.”
Kuhn added: “We are thrilled to have Joe and Amplify Pictures as new co-producers on ‘Invasive Species.’ Joe has a long history of having a pulse on culture and finding new talent, so it is no surprise he is attracted to this play, and to Maia’s work.”
Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Breslin returns to direct the London production, which begins previews Sept. 3 and opens Sept. 5, running through Oct. 3.
