The film — which will be the third Pee-wee Herman movie since 1985’s franchise-starting Pee-wee’s Big Adventure — will premiere during next month’s South by Southwest Film Festival, then receive a wide release on Netflix later in March.
Co-written by Reubens and Paul Rust (Love, Comedy Bang! Bang!) and directed by John Lee (Broad City, Wonder Showzen), Pee-wee’s Big Holiday has the titular Pee-wee Herman (Reubens) setting off on a grand adventure after meeting a mysterious stranger who encourages him to see the world. Magic Mike and True Blood actor Joe Manganiello plays the motorcycle-riding visitor to Pee-wee’s hometown of Fairville who initiates Pee-wee’s first-ever vacation.
Along with Reubens and Manganiello, the film’s cast also includes Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), and Janina Gavankar (The League), as well as a long list of familiar faces in cameo roles. The film also includes an appearance by former Pee-wee’s Playhouse actress Lynne Marie Stewart, who played Miss Yvonne in Reubens’ popular television series featuring Pee-wee Herman.
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday is co-produced by Reubens and Judd Apatow (Anchorman, Bridesmaids), who have spent the last few years developing the film and bringing Pee-wee Herman back to the screen.
Paul Reubens first made Pee-wee Herman a household name with the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which also served to bring Hollywood’s attention to director Tim Burton. That film was followed by five-season television series Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which earned five Emmy Awards during its celebrated run. That was followed by the 1988 feature Big Top Pee-Wee, and more than two decades later, Reubens reprised the role for the critically praised stage show The Pee-wee Herman Stage Show: The Return, which opened in 2010.
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday premieres March 18 on Netflix.
