Ramy Youssef and Steve Way develop body swap film for Inevitable Studios

The film industry often separates comedy from disability narratives, but a new project aims to merge the two. Ramy Youssef and Steve Way have joined forces to develop an untitled body swap comedy feature for Inevitable Studios. The story centers on a man with muscular dystrophy and his burly caregiver who accidentally exchange bodies. The resulting chaos drives the plot of the film.

Way and Youssef have known each other since middle school in New Jersey. Way first appeared in the Hulu series Ramy in 2019 as a character named Steve. He later played himself in the HBO stand-up special Ramy Youssef: More Feelings. While Way frequently collaborates with Youssef, he has also booked independent roles. His most recent such credit is the Hulu series Furious.

Youssef is currently in production on his directorial debut, Martha and Muhammad, for A24. He stars in that film opposite Sharon Stone. He also recently released his third HBO stand-up special, Ramy Youssef: In Love. The comedian created, wrote, directed, and starred in the original Ramy series. He serves as a producer on the new body swap project through his company, Cairo Cowboy.

Way will act in and co-write the new feature. He is collaborating on the script with Jon Braylock. Braylock co-created and starred in the Netflix sketch show Astronomy Club. He holds writing credits for the series Grown-Ish and The G Word With Adam Conover. He also co-hosts the podcast Black Men Can’t Jump In Hollywood.

Inevitable Studios is part of the Inevitable Foundation. The foundation is led by co-founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska. It focuses on commercial film and television narratives told through a disability lens. Give Not Take Media will also work on the production. That company was founded in 2011 to transform U.S. systems and the culture of care.

The creative team has secured representation from several agencies. Way is represented by Steven C. Schecter and Narrative. Youssef is represented by WME, Entertainment 360, Yorn Levine, and Narrative. Braylock is represented by IAG, Mainstay Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello. The project is currently in early development stages.