If you’ve been keeping an eye on the 2026 release calendar, you’ve likely seen the buzz building around Poetic License. Honestly, it’s one of those projects that looks like a "nepo baby" convention on paper, but the early word from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) suggests there’s way more heart here than just Hollywood lineage. Directed by Maude Apatow in her feature debut, the film features a cast that’s basically a who’s who of rising stars and seasoned comedy vets.
The story is kinda wild. It follows two best friends in college, Sam and Ari, who both end up falling for a middle-aged mom named Liz who is auditing their poetry workshop. It sounds like the setup for a trashy early-2000s frat comedy, but the script by Raffi Donatich apparently steers it into something much more human and, well, poetic.
The Core Trio Leading the Cast of Poetic License Film
The movie really hinges on the chemistry between the three leads. If they don't click, the whole "two college kids chasing a mom" vibe becomes creepy real fast.
- Leslie Mann as Liz Cassidy: Maude’s real-life mom plays the woman at the center of the chaos. Liz is a former therapist and a soon-to-be empty nester who’s feeling a bit unmoored after moving for her husband's job. Mann is basically the queen of that specific brand of "neurotic but lovable" comedy, so she’s a perfect fit here.
- Cooper Hoffman as Ari Zimmer: The son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. After his breakout in Licorice Pizza, he’s proving he isn’t just a fluke. Ari is the "grab-life-by-the-balls" half of the friendship—unfiltered and a bit chaotic.
- Andrew Barth Feldman as Sam Solomon: You might know him from No Hard Feelings or Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen. He plays the more calculated, high-strung friend. He’s got a job offer at Goldman Sachs (or Morgan Stanley, depending on which trailer cut you believe) and he’s the total opposite of Ari.
Watching these three interact is the main draw. Critics who saw the TIFF premiere mentioned that the "competition" between the boys to court Liz—which involves taking her to frat parties and including her in group projects—is where the biggest laughs are.
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A Supporting Cast That Steals the Scene
While the central trio handles the heavy lifting, the rest of the cast of poetic license film is surprisingly deep. It’s not just a bunch of cameos; these roles actually ground the story’s more ridiculous moments.
Nico Parker plays Dora Cassidy, Liz’s daughter. Parker (daughter of Thandiwe Newton) has been on a tear lately with The Last of Us and How to Train Your Dragon. In this film, she’s the high school senior who’s ready to move on with her life, which only adds to Liz’s "empty nest" crisis.
Then there’s Cliff "Method Man" Smith. Yeah, the Wu-Tang legend plays James Cassidy, Liz’s husband and a high-ranking economics professor. It’s a fun piece of casting that adds a different energy to the "Apatow-verse."
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The Faculty and Friends
- Martha Kelly: She plays Professor Greta Ellis. If you’ve seen her in Baskets or Euphoria, you know her deadpan delivery is unmatched. She’s the one teaching the poetry workshop that starts this whole mess.
- Maisy Stella: Fresh off her breakout in My Old Ass, she plays Grace Wilson.
- Jake Bongiovi: Jon Bon Jovi’s son joins the mix as Julian. This is one of his first big film roles, and people are curious to see if he’s got the acting chops to match the rest of this ensemble.
- Will Price: Plays a character named Max.
Why the "Family Business" Vibe Matters Here
It’s impossible to talk about the cast of poetic license film without mentioning the elephant in the room: the Apatow family tree. Maude Apatow is directing her mother, Leslie Mann, in a film produced by her father, Judd Apatow.
Some people find this annoying. I get it. But there’s a nuance to it.
Maude has spent years on the set of her dad’s movies (Knocked Up, This Is 40), basically apprenticing since she was a kid. By the time she hit Euphoria, she’d already developed a specific screen presence. For Poetic License, she’s using that lifetime of observation to create a film that feels like those classic mid-budget studio comedies we don't get much anymore.
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The fact that she cast Cooper Hoffman and Nico Parker—both children of industry titans—only leans into that "legacy" feel. But unlike a lot of lazy casting, these performers are actually delivering. Reviews say the film deals with parental abandonment and the insecurity of love in a way that feels very personal. Maybe you need to grow up in that fishbowl to write/direct a story about it so effectively.
What to Expect from the May 15, 2026 Release
Row K Entertainment picked up the film for a "mid-seven figures" deal after it killed at TIFF. That’s a big vote of confidence. They’ve set a wide release date for May 15, 2026.
If you’re planning to see it, don’t expect a raunchy slapstick fest. It’s a 117-minute comedy that’s more about "recognizably human behavior" than one-liners. It’s got a 77 on Metacritic right now, which is solid for a comedy.
Basically, it's a "comfort movie." It’s designed to be the kind of film you watch on a Sunday afternoon when you want to feel something but also want to laugh at the absurdity of a 40-something woman trying to survive a kegger.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check out the leads' previous work: If you haven't seen Licorice Pizza (Cooper Hoffman) or No Hard Feelings (Andrew Barth Feldman), watch them now. It'll give you a sense of the "odd couple" energy they bring to this film.
- Follow Jewelbox Pictures: This is Maude Apatow’s new production company. Poetic License is their first big swing, and it likely signals the type of character-driven stories they’ll be chasing in the future.
- Watch the TIFF interviews: If you want to see the real-life chemistry, there’s a great Hollywood Reporter suite interview from September 2025 where Leslie Mann talks about being directed by her daughter. It’s actually pretty sweet and gives you a glimpse into the "safe space" Maude built on set.
The film is officially hitting theaters nationwide in May 2026. Keep an eye out for the full trailer, which should be dropping a few months before the premiere to see this ensemble in action.