‘Kinda Pregnant’ Interview: Amy Schumer and Jillian Bell

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(L to R) Jillian Bell and Amy Schumer star in ‘Kinda Pregnant’.

Premiering on Netflix February 5th is the new comedy ‘Kinda Pregnant’, which was directed by Tyler Spindel (‘The Wrong Missy’) and co-written by Amy Schumer (’Trainwreck’).

The film stars Schumer, as well as Jillian Bell (‘Candy Cane Lane’), Will Forte (‘MacGruber’), Damon Wayans Jr. (‘Let’s Be Cops’), Brianne Howey (‘Ginny & Georgia’), Alex Moffat (‘Saturday Night Live’), and Joel David Moore (‘Avatar’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Amy Schumer and Jillian Bell about making ‘Kinda Pregnant’, Schumer’s work on the script, their characters’ long friendship, working together and improvising on set, the lie Schumer’s character tells, and if she’s ever told a lie that big in her own life.

Related Article: Jillian Bell Talks ‘I’m Totally Fine’ and Working with Natalie Morales

Amy Schumer in ‘Kinda Pregnant’. Photo: Netflix.

Moviefone: To begin with, Amy, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and as a writer what were some of the elements you wanted to add to the film?

Amy Schumer: My first reaction was this is an incredible premise that felt like a classic comedy that I couldn’t believe hadn’t been made yet. I wanted to ground it a little more in truth about how friends talk to each other, and the circumstances. I wanted my character to be believable that you could like her and the circumstances to be possible, and just add bigger set pieces and make this a big comedy. I saw this as just huge.

(L to R) Jillian Bell as Kate and Amy Schumer as Lainy in 'Kinda Pregnant'. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

MF: Jillian, can you talk about Lainy and Kate’s long friendship and how it is tested through the course of the movie?

Jillian Bell: Lainy and Kate have been friends since childhood, and they’ve probably had some bumps along the road, but this is probably the biggest one. I just think that it really showcased something that we don’t see often in film, which is truly what happens when you go through the hardest challenge in a friendship and overcoming that and seeing the ugliness of that and seeing it through and being like, “Great. Now that you’ve gotten that out, that you’re very jealous and want to have your own kid, where do we go from here? How do we keep this friendship on the tracks? Because I love you and your worth it.” They need each other. I think especially, I mean, I’ve never been through a pregnancy before, but in thinking of wanting that in my future, I would need my girlfriends to be around me as much as possible just to keep my sanity, it feels like.

(L to R) Amy Schumer and Brianne Howey in ‘Kinda Pregnant’. Photo: Netflix.

MF: In the film, Lainy tells a big lie that spins out of control. Amy, can you talk about that, and have you ever told a lie that spiraled out of control and how did you handle that?

AS: I’m sure. I’m such a liar. I am sure I’ve told so many lies, but that’s the thing. I can’t really remember. I don’t have a great memory, so I really keep it honest these days because I can’t remember. But I just think there’s nothing funnier than lying. Seeing somebody in the moment having to lie just really gets me, and it’s so fun to play with. Also, it’s just something to keep up. The tension of the bump and then the faking it is just such a roller coaster to have to ride, and I feel like it’s such a good hook. I think people really hook into it and want to know how is this going to happen? How is this going to play out? Yeah, so the lie is what the whole movie is, at its core.

(L to R) Lizze Broadway as Shirley, Jillian Bell as Kate, Amy Schumer as Lainy, Brianne Howey as Megan and Urzila Carlson as Fallon in 'Kinda Pregnant'. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

MF: Finally, Jillian, how much fun was it working with Amy and creating the friendship between these characters, and was there time for improvisation on set?

JB: There were so many moments to improvise and play and have fun, and Amy supported that throughout the entire process. I wish I could make every movie with Amy Schumer. I truly want to. It’s just easy and we have so much fun together. It was the best.

(L to R) Amy Schumer, Urzila Carlson, and Jillian Bell in ‘Kinda Pregnant’. Photo: Netflix.

AS: Let’s just make every movie together. I’ll sign a contract right now. I couldn’t even look at Jillian a lot of times. She would just set me off and I couldn’t stop, and I would have to look right past her. But we have this whole sequence that isn’t even in the movie anymore where we were going, “You’re off.” And she’s like, “No, you’re off.” I don’t know, just improvising. It was heaven.

“Lying like a mother.”

R1 hr 37 minFeb 5th, 2025

Jealous of her best friend’s pregnancy, Lainy wears a fake baby bump…and accidentally meets the man of her dreams. Read the Plot

What is the plot of ‘Kinda Pregnant’?

After her friend (Jillian Bell) gets pregnant, Lainy (Amy Schumer) becomes jealous and starts to wear a fake belly. Things become complicated when she meets the man (Will Forte) of her dreams.