Sharon Stone and Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Ramy Youssef are teaming up for a provocative new A24 comedy that explores love, religion, class, immigration, and cultural differences. The film, titled Martha & Muhammad, will mark Youssef’s feature directorial debut.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stone and Youssef will lead the cast of the upcoming project, which is being produced and financed by A24. Youssef has written the screenplay and will also produce the movie through his Cairo Cowboy banner.
Martha & Muhammad follows a white, widowed New York socialite who unexpectedly falls in love with a young Muslim man. Through their relationship, the film will examine themes of age, social class, faith, immigration, and the cultural divides that can shape relationships.
While A24 has yet to reveal additional casting or detailed plot information, production is expected to begin this fall. Youssef will produce alongside Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie through Central. Christopher Storer and Tyson Bidner will also produce for American Light & Fixture, with A24 overseeing the project. Safdie is additionally co-writing the screenplay with Youssef.
The film arrives at a time when stories centered on Middle Eastern and Muslim-American experiences are receiving greater attention in Hollywood. Youssef has frequently explored Muslim-American identity, family, faith, and cultural expectations through his comedy and previous screen work, making Martha & Muhammad a natural continuation of those themes.
The project also marks another collaboration between Youssef and A24. He previously worked with the studio on the acclaimed Hulu series Ramy, as well as his comedy specials Feelings and More Feelings. His performance in Ramy earned him a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award, along with two Emmy nominations. Youssef also collaborated with A24 on the animated series #1 Happy Family USA, which streams on Prime Video and is set to return for another season.
Stone, meanwhile, continues to take on a wide range of film and television projects. Her career includes appearances in HBO’s Euphoria, David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow, and Babies. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese’s Casino.
With Stone and Youssef at the center of the story, Martha & Muhammad has the potential to combine sharp comedy with timely commentary on relationships, identity, religion, and the cultural boundaries that separate—and sometimes bring together—people from very different worlds.
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