You've probably seen the thumbnails. They’re everywhere on YouTube and TikTok: Jonah Hill looking suspiciously like a live-action Eric Cartman, Michael Cera sporting Stan’s iconic brown jacket, and a gritty, "real-world" version of the Colorado town we’ve known for decades. It looks official. It looks expensive.
It’s also totally fake.
The internet is currently obsessed with a South Park movie Jonah Hill collaboration that simply doesn't exist in the way people think it does. If you’re looking for a release date for a live-action South Park starring the Superbad crew, you’re going to be looking for a long time. These "trailers" are the work of high-end AI generation and clever fan-editing, designed to trigger that specific lizard-brain nostalgia for the mid-2000s comedy era.
Honestly, it's easy to see why people fall for it. The logic is there. Hill and the South Park creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, share a very specific brand of fearless, boundary-pushing satire. But while the "Jonah Hill as Cartman" project is a digital hallucination, there is a real live-action comedy project from the South Park team that is actually in the works—and it’s arguably much weirder than anything the AI could dream up.
The Real Project: Kendrick Lamar, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone
While the internet was busy casting Jonah Hill in a red jacket, the actual creators of South Park were quietly building a partnership with one of the biggest names in music. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are currently producing a live-action comedy with Kendrick Lamar and his creative partner Dave Free.
👉 See also: Billie Eilish Therefore I Am Explained: The Philosophy Behind the Mall Raid
This isn't just a rumor. Paramount Pictures confirmed this years ago, and we’ve been tracking its slow crawl through production ever since.
What is the Kendrick Lamar movie actually about?
Forget the quiet mountain town. This script, written by longtime South Park writer Vernon Chatman (the voice of Towelie, for those in the know), follows a young Black man interning as a slave reenactor at a living history museum. The twist? He discovers that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once owned his ancestors.
It is exactly the kind of "nobody is safe" satire you’d expect from the guys who gave us The Book of Mormon and Team America: World Police.
Why Everyone Thinks Jonah Hill is Involved
So, why does the south park movie jonah hill search trend keep popping up? Basically, it’s a perfect storm of three things:
✨ Don't miss: Bad For Me Lyrics Kevin Gates: The Messy Truth Behind the Song
- AI Concept Trailers: Channels like Multiverse of Movies and KH Studio have perfected the art of "Fan-Made" trailers. They use tools like Midjourney and Runway to create hyper-realistic shots of Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. Because Hill has been open about his love for the show (and because he’s a comedic genius), the algorithm decides this is "news."
- The Live-Action Transition: Since the Kendrick Lamar project was announced as a "live-action comedy from the South Park creators," many casual fans filled in the blanks. They assumed "live-action" plus "South Park creators" must equal "Live-Action South Park."
- The "Superbad" Connection: There’s a persistent cultural link between the Superbad generation of comedy and South Park. Jonah Hill’s early career was built on the same DNA of raunchy, heart-filled absurdity that Trey and Matt pioneered.
The Current Status of the Film (2026 Update)
If you were hoping to see a movie in 2025, I have some bad news. The untitled Kendrick Lamar/South Park project has been delayed several times. Originally slated for a July 4, 2025, theatrical release, it was pushed to March 20, 2026.
As of right now, even that date is looking a bit shaky. Paramount recently pulled the film from its March slot, moving it to an "undetermined" date. Reports suggest the delay is purely due to scheduling. Kendrick Lamar has been on a massive global tour following his GNX album release, and Trey and Matt are still tied up with the $900 million ViacomCBS deal that keeps the actual South Park series running through Season 30.
Matt Stone told Bloomberg recently that they are "working hard at finishing the movie" and that it’s intended to be a theatrical experience, not just a streaming dump.
Is Jonah Hill secretly in the Kendrick Lamar movie?
There has been zero official confirmation of the cast. While names like Jonah Hill often get tossed around in "wishlist" casting, the production has kept a lid on the actors. Given the plot involves a young Black man and his girlfriend, it's unlikely Jonah Hill is the lead. Could he have a cameo? Maybe. But he isn't Eric Cartman.
🔗 Read more: Ashley Johnson: The Last of Us Voice Actress Who Changed Everything
What to Watch Instead
If you’re craving that specific Jonah Hill or South Park vibe while waiting for the real movie to drop, you actually have some better options than staring at AI trailers.
- South Park: Snow Day!: If you haven't played the 2024 game yet, it’s the closest thing to a "live" interactive South Park experience we’ve had recently.
- Outcome (Directed by Jonah Hill): Jonah is busy behind the camera these days. He’s directing Keanu Reeves in a dark comedy called Outcome. It’s a better use of your time than waiting for a fake Cartman movie.
- The Streaming Specials: Don't forget the Paramount+ "Exclusive Events." They are essentially movies, and they tackle things like AI (Not Suitable for Children) and the obesity drug craze (The End of Obesity).
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
Stop clicking on those "First Trailer" videos unless you just want to see some cool AI art. They aren't real. To stay actually informed, follow the production companies Park County (Stone/Parker) and pgLang (Lamar/Free).
The real movie—the one about the museum reenactor—is going to be a massive cultural moment when it finally lands. It’s being directed by Trey Parker himself, marking his first time directing a live-action feature since Team America in 2004. That’s a twenty-year gap. Whatever they are cooking, it’s going to be far more offensive and hilarious than a simple live-action remake of a cartoon we’ve already seen.
Keep an eye on official Paramount Pictures press releases for a confirmed 2026 or 2027 date. Until then, remember that if you see Jonah Hill in a South Park hat on your feed, it’s just a robot playing with your feelings.