Da’Vine Joy Randolph to lead star-studded cast of Dedicated to Morris Burke

Da’Vine Joy Randolph will star in Dedicated to Morris Burke, alongside Kate McKinnon, Amy Sedaris, Janeane Garofalo, Alison Pill and Andrew Rannells.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph has joined the cast of Dedicated to Morris Burke.

The 40-year-old actress – who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mary Lamb in the 2023 film The Holdovers – will join Kate McKinnon, Amy Sedaris, Janeane Garofalo, Alison Pill and Andrew Rannells in the upcoming indie dark comedy.

Will Ropp will direct the movie, which stars Randolph as widow Judy Brooks, who discovers that the final novel of her late best-selling author husband Stephen isn’t dedicated to her like his previous books.

It is dedicated to a man named Morris Burke and Judy becomes consumed by trying to find out who the mysterious Morris Burke is.

A description of the movie from Seattle Artists Agency states: “After her best-selling novelist husband passes away, Judy Brooks discovers that his final novel is not dedicated to her, like all the others, but to a man named Morris Burke.

“During what should be a period of grieving, Judy instead spirals, consumed by the singular question: Who the f*** is Morris Burke? What begins as a search for a name becomes something more destabilising; an excavation of her relationships and memories, all while drifting further and further from the one person who needs her the most, her son Lucas.”

The description continues: “She desperately wants to support her teenage son, Lucas, with whom she often butt heads, but can’t shake thoughts about the dedication. So, Judy embarks on a wild goose chase, enlisting the help of private investigator Patrick, to track down Morris and get some answers. In the midst of her search, her grief, and one too many witty tongue lashings, Judy finally figures out how to connect with Lucas, filling in the ‘family linchpin’ role that Stephen left behind.”

Meanwhile, Da’Vine Joy Randolph previously insisted winning an Oscar won’t “change” her.

The actress capped off a hugely successful awards season when she scooped the Best Supporting Actress prize for ‘The Holdovers’ at the Academy Awards in March 2024 and while she hopes to “make a legacy” and create work that “matters” to people, she doesn’t see her victory affecting who she is deep down.

Asked the difference between her before and after her Oscars win, she said: “There isn’t one. There’s a trophy in my house now, but I’m not different. You can’t come from Philadelphia and be changed; they won’t let you. This will be who I am.

“The roles will get better, the money will improve, the lines will get better. I hope to make a legacy and leave an imprint with this career. I hope my work will matter, and it will be something that people of all shapes, sizes, colours, creeds and genders can connect to.

“But me, and the soul of me, won’t change.”

The recognition means Da’Vine feels “seen” and she is looking forward to embracing the opportunities that come her way.

She said: “I feel grateful. I feel seen. I feel loved. I feel respected. I feel like the time and work that I’ve put in matters. I feel excited for the future.”