In the event that they ever create a Mount Rushmore-style tribute to the best comedians in American historical past, Mel Brooks’s face would absolutely be carved in rock. Hand a chisel to Judd Apatow and he’d begin the work.
“[Mel’s] the explanation why so many people went into comedy as a result of he was a grasp at directing, writing, producing, as a performer, as a standup,” Apatow tells Deadline. “He gave us all hope that you might do this sort of daring work.”
Apatow explores the legend’s unbelievable profession within the two-part documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 12 months Previous Man!, nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards – tied for probably the most of any nonfiction venture this yr. Main the popularity — nominations for Excellent Documentary or Nonfiction Particular and Excellent Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program, for Apatow and co-director Michael Bonfiglio.
Director Mel Brooks and actor Cleavon Little on the set of ‘Blazing Saddles’ in 1974.
Courtesy Everett Assortment
“I believe he at all times had an ethical heart,” Apatow says of Brooks, “regardless that he by no means actually bragged about it. He was at all times attacking Nazis and fascism and the federal government mistreating its individuals and racism. And he discovered a strategy to be piss-your-pants humorous whereas mocking all these individuals who want it.”
“He’s at all times about humorous, however there’s at all times one thing extra there,” provides Bonfiglio. “And I believe that’s what helps his stuff endure.”
(L-R) Director Michael Bonfiglio, topic Mel Brooks and director Judd Apatow attend the LA premiere of ‘Mel Brooks: The 99 12 months Previous Man!‘ on the Academy Museum of Movement Photos on January 20, 2026 in Los Angeles.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Photographs for HBO
Strictly talking, the movie’s title might be up to date. Mel Brooks certainly was 99 when the documentary premiered on HBO in January. However on June 28, he turned 100, just some days earlier than the Emmy nominations had been introduced. Apatow says consideration was given to ready till Brook’s centenary to debut the movie.
“Sooner or later, HBO was like, ‘Do you wish to air it later, to hit the hundred [mark]?’” Apatow remembers. “And we stated, ‘Let’s simply get this factor on.’ 99 sounds cool sufficient.”
In recent times, Apatow and Bonfiglio have been documenting a few of comedy’s most good minds, like George Carlin – one other mega-talent who may go on Mount Rushmore. Their 2-part George Carlin’s American Dream gained the Emmy for Excellent Documentary or Nonfiction Particular in 2022. The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, directed by Apatow and co-executive produced by Bonfiglio, gained that very same marquee class in 2018.
“They’re individuals who have lived and labored in present enterprise, however we at all times attempt to get to the extra human, common qualities,” Bonfiglio says of their documentary topics. “That’s simply one of many issues that we get enthusiastic about and get moved ourselves about taking a look at these tales.”
Apatow and Bonfiglio additionally pursue separate initiatives, after all.
“I’m engaged on a documentary proper now about [musician] Billy Strings,” Apatow tells us. “Michael’s engaged on a documentary about Kris Kristofferson. However I believe the comedy will at all times dominate what I do. It’s all about discovering topics which have one thing to say that feels particular. Mel Brooks by no means actually opened up like this earlier than. That is the primary time he let his guard down. And simply as a fan of comedy and his work, I believe we each had been excited about realizing who he was. What’s it prefer to undergo all the things from the Despair to Trump? And so, I believe we obtained very fortunate that he was prepared to belief us along with his full story.”
Common Photos
Within the narrative/fiction realm, Apatow is finishing work on The Comeback King, a comedy he wrote with Glen Powell by which Powell performs a Nation Western star whose profession has imploded.
“Glen’s an incredible author… It’s been actually humorous simply being within the foxhole with him and he actually makes me chuckle,” Apatow shares. “We’re making an attempt to make a giant comedy for the theaters. The theaters want them, and we’re going to attempt to present that folks nonetheless need them.”
As Deadline reported, The Comeback King is due for launch in February 2027. Apatow up to date us on one other of his scripted initiatives, a movie with comic Nikki Glaser.
Nikki Glaser
Disney/Artwork Streiber
“Nikki is engaged on a screenplay proper now,” Apatow says. “Clearly, she’s a ridiculously proficient and engaging particular person. And I believe it’s clear to all people that we might love a Nikki Glaser movie. Hopefully, we’re getting near a draft and one thing that may occur subsequent yr.”
He provides, “It’s years and years of conversations that result in any such work, however I’ve identified her a very long time and that is one thing we’re very enthusiastic about.”
Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen in ‘Knocked Up.’
Common Photos/Courtesy Everett Assortment
Apatow’s directorial work in comedy movie contains This Is 40, The 40-12 months-Previous Virgin, and Knocked Up, the latter a 2007 basic starring Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. It virtually starred Anne Hathaway. Rogen lately informed the A24 Podcast that Hathaway stop the film after changing into uncomfortable with a scene that might have confirmed her giving beginning to a baby sired by Rogen’s character, Ben Stone.
“Crowning is a troublesome one. She didn’t need the crowning of the infant to be visually consultant,” Rogen stated on the podcast. “She felt that it was not her model.”
Talking with Deadline, Apatow more-or-less confirmed the story.
“Anne Hathaway is superb and clearly all the things labored out for everyone in all respects there,” Apatow says. “And that type of factor occurs while you’re making an attempt to determine what everybody’s comfy with and what works for the movie.”
Rogen, presumably, was at all times the primary option to painting Stone. Or was he?
“It’s humorous, we made this brief movie once we had been capturing Knocked Up referred to as Discovering Ben Stone and the concept was that Seth was the tenth option to play the half,” Apatow reveals. “Whereas we shot the film, we had all of those actors come and they’d shoot the scene with Katherine Heigl after which I might fireplace them as a result of it wasn’t going nicely. And so, Michael Cera did it and Danny McBride. After which I believed I might be the lead of the film. It’s one thing that we had been having enjoyable with the problem of getting all the things to line up.”
Judd Apatow on the Deadline Hollywood Portrait Studio at Sundance 2026 on January 23, 2026 in Park Metropolis, Utah.
Josh Telles for Deadline
Issues are lining up splendidly for Apatow. Along with all his upcoming initiatives, in January at Sundance he unveiled one other comedy-themed documentary, Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story, that he co-directed with Neil Berkeley. And in September he and his collaborators will go for six awards on the Inventive Arts Emmys for Mel Brooks: The 99 12 months Previous Man! Within the Excellent Documentary or Nonfiction Particular class, it’s up in opposition to a number of different celebrity-themed movies — ones on John Sweet, Martin Brief, and Jayne Mansfield, mom of Mariska Hargitay.
“I’ve at all times beloved the deep profile,” he says. “The factor that every one of those movies that had been nominated have in frequent is that they’re very sincere and go all the best way. I believe these are all fairly superb items of labor.”
