A Disgraced Comedian Is Getting An Entire Documentary

Did we need this?

By Matthew Creith | Published

As far as successful jokesters go, Louis CK may have been one of the top comedians in the world. Known for provocative storytelling onstage, he parlayed his success as a comic into a career on television in the hit FX series Louie. Unfortunately for CK, much of his success as an actor and comedian came crashing down due to allegations against him during the #MeToo era, which has since followed him in his professional and personal lives. In recent years, he has attempted a comeback via his comedy roots. Now, it appears that the disgraced comedian may be getting back in the game with a new film.

According to a report by IndieWire, a new documentary is currently in the works for Showtime that will center on Louis C.K.’s fall from grace while highlighting his attempts at a comeback in recent years. Billed as a deep dive into the #MeToo era controversies surrounding Louis CK’s behavior towards his accusers, the documentary will discuss his rise to fame again as the entertainer has been at the forefront of cancel culture. With some notable wins for the comedian in the last couple of years, in addition to his admittance to the unethical antics he displayed towards his victims, CK has seemed to quash some of the backlash.

Louis CK in promotional artwork for Oh My God

The new Louis CK documentary may not be something audiences thought would be coming from a network like Showtime, but it seems that the producers of the film are doing what they can to tell all sides of the story. Variety reports that the documentary will feature interviews with the original New York Times reporters who broke the initial story in 2017, at the start of the #MeToo era. Paramount+ Chief David Nevins, who made the decision to have the documentary shown on Showtime, has all the confidence in the world for CK, noting that he is “A great, great comedian who has come back in his own way.” With some actors like Aziz Ansari, who were shuffled into the #MeToo controversies, gaining ground again five years later, now may be the best time to discuss how cancel culture affected some careers.

Rumors of Louis CK’s behavior towards women had apparently been hinted at for years, but The New York Times finally reported about it in 2017. The Hollywood Reporter notes that five women came forward to discuss sexual misconduct allegations against the comedian, including masturbating in front of them. CK lost several deals he was negotiating at the time, with his film I Love You, Daddy starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Rose Byrne dropped from being released in theaters. Since then, he has rebounded a bit with a return to stand-up comedy. Earlier this year, CK took home the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for Sincerely Louis CK, which sparked the big comeback that the comedian had been looking for. The new documentary will provide a timeline of events, starting with the allegations that plagued the American Hustle star to current events where CK is selling out comedy shows.