Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers to Write and Star in New Comedy for Searchlight

Actors, comedians and “Las Culturistas” co-hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are developing a new movie at Searchlight Pictures.

Yang and Rogers, who previously starred in the Searchlight rom-com “Fire Island,” will write and star in the untitled comedy. The story is inspired by the “Search Engine” podcast’s episode ‘Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain?’ about two Americans who embark on a quest: fly across an ocean to try to get into the most exclusive nightclub in the world – Berghain.

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Olivia Gerke and Oly Obst will produce the project for 3 Arts Entertainment. “Search Engine” co-creators PJ Vogt and Sruthi Pinnamaneni will serve as co-producers on the movie. VP of production Richard Ruiz and creative executive Daniel Yu are overseeing the project for the studio, reporting to co-heads of film production & development DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas. UTA, which represents Yang, Rogers, Vogt and Pinnamaneni, brokered the deal.

News of the project comes amid a banner year for Yang and Rogers, both separately and as a duo. The pair, who were featured on Variety’s 2025 Comedy Impact Report, co-host the hit podcast “Las Culturistas.” Yang and Rogers, who met while students at NYU, launched the show in 2016 and have since welcomed guests like Mariah Carey, Tina Fey, Ariana Grande, Amy Poehler and Lady Gaga. “Las Culuristas” was named Podcast of the Year at the iHeart Radio Podcast Awards in 2023 and 2025. In August, the duo’s annual “Las Culturistas Culture Awards” was televised for the first time; the show aired on Bravo and streamed on Peacock, with another ceremony planned for 2026.

Yang is a five-time Emmy-nominated comedian, actor and writer, best known for his work on “Saturday Night Live,” where he’s been a standout performer for seven seasons. He currently stars in the blockbuster musical “Wicked: For Good,” reprising his role as Pfanee. Up next, Yang voices a role in “The Cat in the Hat” from Warner Bros. Animation.

Likewise, Rogers is a multihyphenate talent and is currently performing his annual holiday tour, dubbed “Christmas in December.” Following his breakout performance in Showtime’s “I Love That For You,” Rogers recent credits include Aziz Ansari’s “Good Fortune,” the Netflix series “No Good Deed” and a guest spot on Apple TV’s “Palm Royale.” Behind the scenes, Rogerts has written for hit series such as “The Other Two” and the animated spy comedy “Q-Force.”

In 2022, Yang and Rogers starred in “Fire Island,” Joel Kim Booster’s rom-com about a group of queer best friends who gather in Fire Island Pines for their annual vacation. Booster led the ensemble cast, which also featured Conrad Ricamora, Tomás Matos, Torian Miller and Margaret Cho. Andrew Ahn directed the film.

In addition to UTA, Yang and Rogers are also represented by 3 Arts Entertainment and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Vogt & Pinnamaneni are also repped by Jackoway Austen.