Summary
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name,Bad Monkeyfollows former Miami Police detective Andrew Yancy. Now a health inspector, he is pulled into a shocking case that begins with a severed arm. Although the police doubt him, Yancy continues to follow the evidence down a rabbit hole of corruption and greed as he comes across countless oddball Floridians with ties to the mystery.
Lawrence is famous for finding the perfect balance between comedy, heart, and dramawith series includingShrinking,Ted Lasso, andScrubs. His unique sensibility works perfectly for the world ofBad Monkey,with Vince Vaughn showing off his versatility as an actor with perfect comedic timing and banter as well as pathos. The cast ofBad Monkeybrings the world to life with each actor infusing the world with a different element that adds danger, hilarity, and the perfect murder mystery to the series.
Bad Monkey Official Trailer
Apple TV+ releases the first trailer for Bad Monkey, its new murder mystery show starring Vince Vaughn.
Screen Rantinterviewed Bill Lawrence about his new Apple TV+ seriesBad Monkey. He explained what inspired him to adapt the novel and why Vaughn was the perfect actor to take on the role of Andrew Yancy. Lawrence also praised Turner-Smith’s performance and dedication to her role. Although Lawrence didn’t have an update on anypotentialTed Lassocontinuation, he mentionedScrubsas a strong possibility.
Vince Vaughn Has “A Lifetime Of Taking Stuff That You Wrote And Making It 90% Better By Adding His Own Spin”
Screen Rant: The show is absolutely incredible, man. Andrew Yancy’s at the center of our story. What made Vince Vaughn the perfect fit for Yancy? Can you talk about working with him as a collaborator?
Bill Lawrence: Carl Hiaasen, rockstar writer, he’s one of my heroes. He helped me figure out how I wanted to be a storyteller and he is one of those guys that actually turned out to be as cool as you would hope he would be if you were a fan. So check his stuff out, man. It’s great. Look, I wrote this script and it’s a really hard character in my head to cast because when I wrote it, I didn’t write Vince. I wrote James Garner, Rockford Files.
But we are going to have to get a time machine. He passed away like 13 years ago or something. It’s a character that needs to be big and imposing and can be threatening at times. And very snarky and funny, but at the same time affable and you love him anyways and you root for him. When Vince became interested, I was so lucky. I knew he was the right choice because the day we got into Florida, just even walking around Miami, everybody in America knows him, does not matter background, diversity, gender, anything.
They all approach him like they’ve been best friends for years, and he’s so affable and great at it. I knew he was going to work in the show. Plus the dude has a lifetime of taking stuff that you wrote and making it 90% better by adding his own spin or improv-ing a little bit. Then when people say, “Oh, I really thought that was funny,” I just go, “Thank you.” I have nothing to do with it, man. It’s a gift.
Jodie Turner-Smith Is Stunning: “You Can’t Take Your Eyes Off Her Because She’s So Imposing”
There’s so many rich and interesting characters in this show and I’m glad that it’s a 10-episode series because we get to spend an extended amount of time with these characters, but one that stands out to me is Gracie the Dragon Queen, played brilliantly by Jodie Turner-Smith. What can you tease about Gracie and her grandmother Yaya played by L. Scott Codwell?
Bill Lawrence: First of all, Jodie Turner-Smith, I had only seen her in movies, and the second she got onto set, just rockstar. Stunning, you can’t take your eyes off her because she’s so imposing. She’s so good. So look, the cool thing about Carl’s weird books are 90% of the stuff is all based in truth. He’s been an author in Florida, but he’s also a journalist there for the Miami Herald for years and years and years. So he collects these things.
Point is the Dragon Queen was based on somebody real that lived in Andros and a number of her boyfriends had passed, but in the book, she was much more of a charlatan. Right away you knew she was a con woman. When I told Carl we wanted to expand on the story and make that kind of a younger, more major character who has her own kind of arc of redemption or not, it’ll be interesting to see what people think.
He was down with it, and we cast Scotty as Ya-Ya. We invented that character. So there was an older matriarch in there as well. But the thing I’ll tell you that was so amazing, the same way that Vince elevated the material, Jodi took control of it. She talked to the Obeah consultant literally on a day-to-day basis. She was in charge of her wardrobe. It’s all authentic.
She was in charge of her makeup. It’s all authentic, because that is still practiced on some of the island nations and even in Brazil a little bit. It’s illegal in some places. It’s not voodoo. It’s kind of a true spiritual sect, and she brought such authenticity to it for one of those characters that you’re not sure if they’re a bad guy or not. It is one of my favorite parts of the show. She’s a rockstar.
More Ted Lasso “Is Such A Big Major Life Decision” For Jason Sudeikis
Earlier this year there were some rumblings aboutaTed Lassospinoff. Is that something you’ve heard about or you’re involved with? And if so, are there any update?
Bill Lawrence: My policy on the Ted Lasso things I always answer now as a fan. I love the show so much. I think Jason and the gang are so talented at doing it. I’d kill to watch it again, but we never answer even if we’ve heard stuff. Every actor, every actress, every writer, every producer, we all know that this is such a big major life decision for Jason that you’ll never hear from anybody until you hear from him.
I’m only allowed to say things about stuff like Scrubs reboots, in which case I go, Yeah, maybe next six months or so we’ll figure it out. But Ted Lasso man, I wait with bated breath to see whatever Jason feels like doing just like everybody else.
“Bad Monkey” tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.
Bad Monkey
Cast
A former Miami detective turned health inspector, Andrew Yancy, discovers a severed arm while working in the Florida Keys. Determined to solve the mystery and reclaim his former position, he navigates through a web of quirky locals and corruption, all while dealing with a troublesome monkey.
