Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla launched their SMOSH YouTube channel in 2005, and today, they boast more than 30 million subscribers. The strictly-online comedy team has decided to take a quick break from their YouTube success and attempt to hit it big in the movies.
Lionsgate announced it has acquired the distribution rights to "The SMOSH movie." The co-production of DreamWorks Animation's AwesomenessTV and Defy Media will star Hecox and Padilla in a film described as the "'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' for 2014."
"'The Smosh Movie' brings to life a YouTube comedy franchise beloved by fans around the world and reflects our commitment to extend storytelling in exciting new directions that reach today's digital audience," Jason Constantine, Lionsgate's president of acquisitions and co-productions, said in a statement.
The movie revolves around an embarrassing tape of Anthony that resurfaces online right before his fifth high school reunion. He and Ian will try to remove the footage before it ruins Anthony's chance of reconnecting with his high school crush, Anna.
The SMOSH duo will run into other YouTube stars as they jump through a portal that takes them inside the video-sharing website. The digital-star players will include Jenna Marbles, Grace Helbig, Harley Morenstein, Shane Dawson, Mark Fischback (Markiplier) and Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval. They partially shot the film at YouTube Space LA, according to Variety.
Hecox and Padilla will also encounter professional actors Jillian Nelson, Brittany Ross and Michael Ian Black. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will make an appearance, fulfilling a collaboration dream for the guys.
"'Stone Cold' Steve Austin would be sweet," Hecox said at VidCon 2014 in June. "We just want to get beat up on video."
In addition to their massive YouTube following, SMOSH has 19 million social media followers and 12 million monthly unique website visitors.
