SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS (2022): Ray Romano’s Movie Gets Picked Up For Release By Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

Ray Romano’s Directorial Debut Gets Acquired

Ray Romano’s highly anticipated directorial debut, Somewhere in Queens, has been picked up by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.

Everybody loves Ray Romano. Ever since his hit TV Show, “Everybody Loves Raymond” ran for nine seasons, he’s been a favorite of comedy fans across the country. Romano even got nice reviews for his solid dramatic turn in Martin Scorsese’s 2019 terrifically made masterpiece, The Irishman. Now, his directorial film debut, Somewhere in Queens, has found a distributor after playing to a terrific reception at the Tribeca Film Festival. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions plan to release the movie sometime in 2023.

Romano not only directed the new picture, he stars in it as well. Romano plays Leo Russo, an everyday Joe from Queens, New York whose son (Jacob Ward) gets the opportunity to play basketball in college. The blue-collar Leo must do everything he can in order to embrace his son’s potential to make something out of himself in a comedic and dramatic film which promises to move audiences.

Ray Romano, who is also known for his stand-up comedy, grew up in Forest Hills, Queens making the setting in the new movie the perfect backdrop for the picture’s story to take flight. Romano’s best film role to date was in 2017’s brilliant comedy, The Big Sick, which won much critical acclaim. Somewhere in Queens has gotten almost unanimous praise from critics if the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are any indication. The film stands with a perfect 100% score thus far.

Also of note in Romano’s distinguished career is the actor’s voice-over work as Manny in the animated Ice Age pictures. Those movies made Romano’s humor accessible to children who loved the character of Manny in those films, many of which were box-office smash hits.

Romano tried his hand at successful leading feature film roles in 2004 with Welcome to Mooseport which only mustered up $14 million in domestic ticket sales. Even worse was that picture’s “C+” CinemaScore grade from the little number of viewers who initially turned up to see it. It seemed people weren’t ready to pay to see Romano on the big screen when they could see him for free on television.

It seemed Romano’s luck changed when he continuously did the voice-over work for the previously mentioned Ice Age movies and scored the role of a lifetime in the great movie, The Big Sick which scored an impressive $42 million domestic haul. That acclaimed picture even earned an additional $13 million internationally.

Laurie Metcalf (“The Conners”) co-stars in Somewhere in Queens with Romano and she plays his wife. This upcoming picture is poised to be a sleeper hit that could just sneak up on its viewers with its interesting story and terrific attention to detail that Romano brings to this film and almost every role he plays.

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