EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway on Unaccompanied Minor, Wedding Crashers helmer David Dobkin‘s new road trip comedy formerly titled The Escort, starring comedian Matt Rife.
Seven have joined the cast of the film, shooting in Delaware: newcomer Finnegan Schut and a trio of comics (Iliza Shlesinger, Trae Crowder and Chris Distefano), plus Karan Soni — Rife’s co-star in Netflix’s upcoming FTX series The Altruists — Oscar winner Jaime Ray Newman (The Hunting Wives), and two-time Emmy nominee Bill Camp (The Night Of).
Clockwise Top L-R: Iliza Shlesinger, Karan Soni, Trae Crowder, Chris Distefano, Bill Camp, and Jaime Ray Newman
Anthony Avellano for Deadline/Sela Shiloni/Getty/Nicol Biesek/Courtesy/Matt Kalish
Unaccompanied Minor follows a reckless, hard-partying flight attendant (Rife) on the brink of losing his job who is unexpectedly assigned to escort a nerdy 14-year-old boy (Schut). When engine trouble diverts the flight and strands them hundreds of miles from their destination, the unlikely pair embark on a chaotic and hilarious road trip that forces them to confront their fears, flaws, and what it really means to grow up.
Dobkin is directing from a script co-written with Justin Adler. Christopher Lemole, Tim Zajaros and Alexis Garcia are producing through their new company Top Rope Studios, alongside Picture Films’ Margot Hand, Shelter Island Media’s Tom McNulty, Big Kid Pictures’ Megan Wolpert Dobkin and Dobkin. Rife, Christina Shams, Carrie Fix and Adler are executive producing. The newly launched Producer’s Alliance Capital is financing alongside Top Rope Studios.
Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier’s outfit Upgrade is handling international sales, with UTA Independent Film Group, Top Rope Studios and PAC co-repping North American rights. We scooped the project back in May 2025.
The Top Rope partners told us this morning, “Backing David Dobkin was the easiest decision – with his track record of hilarious mainstream hits and ability to break comedic talent. And Matt Rife is a comedy superstar who we’re excited to give the spotlight. Theatrical comedies are missed, and Top Rope is here to do something about it, starting with Unaccompanied Minor, we’re thrilled to bring this to screens across the world.”
Dobkin added, “I’m thrilled to finally be rolling cameras on UNACCOMPANIED MINOR. This is the kind of comedy I love making—big laughs grounded in real emotion. Matt has been an incredible creative partner from the beginning, and we’ve assembled a fantastic cast that audiences are going to fall in love with. I couldn’t be more excited to be making this film.”
Rife is represented by Avesta Entertainment, UTA and Felker Toczek; Dobkin by UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern; Adler by UTA and HJTH; Schut by CESD and Horizon Talent Management’s Kathy Keeley; Shlesinger by UTA, Avalon Television and Brecheen Feldman Breimer; Soni by CAA and Mosaic; Crowder by Gersh, Artists First and Knol Hanly Garrett; Distefano by CAA, Dixon Talent and Schreck Rose Dapello; Newman by Artium Talent, Burstein Company and Cohen & Gardner; and Camp by UTA and Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo.
