Summary

• "Ricky Stanicky" features a star-studded cast including Zac Efron, John Cena, and William H. Macy in a hilarious high-concept comedy.
• The script for "Ricky Stanicky" spent years in development before Peter Farrelly turned it into a movie with a very different cast.
• Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, and Lex Scott Davis also the talented ensemble in the raucous comedy "Ricky Stanicky."

Peter Farrelly's raucous new comedy Ricky Stanicky has a star-studded cast that includes such iconic actors as Zac Efron, William H. Macy, and John Cena in the title role. Ricky Stanicky revolves around three lifelong friends who have made up a fictional fourth friend named Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble with their wives. When their wives suddenly want to meet Ricky, they hire a washed-up actor to bring their imaginary pal to life. It’s a hilarious high-concept premise befitting of one of the Farrelly brothers’ classic comedies (despite being directed by just one of the brothers).

The script for Ricky Stanicky was featured on the Black List – a directory of all the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood – and spent years in development hell before Farrelly snapped it up and finally turned it into a movie. Over the years, movie stars ranging from James Franco to Jim Carrey were attached to the title role (via IndieWire). Now that the film has finally been made, a very different performer is playing the eponymous character. From comedian Andrew Santino to Loudermilk star Anja Savcic, there are a ton of wonderful actors in the Ricky Stanicky cast.

Zac Efron As Dean

Zac Efron was born in 1987 in San Luis Obispo, California, and got his big break with the lead role of Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical trilogy. Efron is known for playing Link Larkin in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, Teddy Sanders in the Neighbors movies, and Mike O’Donnell, the younger version of Matthew Perry’s character, in 17 Again. He recently received praise for his tearjerking portrayal of Kevin Von Erich in the wrestling biopic The Iron Claw. In Ricky Stanicky, Efron plays Dean, one of the guys who have to bring their titular imaginary friend to life.

John Cena As Rod / Ricky Stanicky

John Cena was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1977, and first broke out as a wrestler in the WWE. Cena has since taken on mainstream acting roles outside his wrestling career. He’s best known for playing the masked vigilante Peacemaker in various live-action DC Comics projects, starting with The Suicide Squad. He has also played Mitchell Mannes in Blockers, U.S. Army Colonel Jack Burns in Bumblebee, and Jakob Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise. In Ricky Stanicky, Cena plays a washed-up actor named Rod who takes on the eponymous role as a fake friend to the three protagonists.

Ricky Stanicky has been in development since 2010.

Jermaine Fowler As Wes

Jermaine Fowler was born in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and broke big with his starring role as Prince Lavelle, the long-lost son of Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem, in the romcom sequel Coming 2 America. He also played Franco Wicks in the sitcom Superior Donuts on CBS, Martin Mitchell in the psychological thriller miniseries A Murder at the End of the World on FX, and up-and-coming comedian Russell in Pete Holmes’ semi-autobiographical comedy series Crashing on HBO. In Ricky Stanicky, Fowler plays Wes, another member of the trio trying to convince their wives that their imaginary friend is a real person.

Andrew Santino As J.T.

Andrew Santino was born in Chicago in 1983 and broke big with the role of talented but self-destructive comedian Billy Hobbs in the L.A.-set Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here. Santino is best known as a standup comic, having released the specials Home Field Advantage on Amazon Prime and Cheeseburger on Netflix. He’s also played other acting roles such as Michael in the Netflix series Beef and Lil Dicky’s roommate and manager Mike in the fictionalized FXX sitcom Dave. In Ricky Stanicky, Santino plays J.T., the third member of the group trying to bring the eponymous imaginary friend to life.

Lex Scott Davis As Erin

Lex Scott Davis was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1991, and first broke out with the eponymous role in the made-for-TV biopic Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart on Lifetime. Davis has played other film roles like Nya in the horror prequel The First Purge, Georgia in the action-packed blaxploitation remake Superfly, and Joanne in the Bob Zellner biopic Son of the South, as well as regular TV roles like Iris in the Netflix miniseries Florida Man and Alyse Craig in the short-lived TV adaptation of Training Day. In Ricky Stanicky, Davis plays the role of Erin.

William H. Macy As Ted Summerhayes

William H. Macy was born in Miami, Florida, in 1950, and first broke big with his lead role as car salesman Jerry Lundegaard in the Coen brothers’ darkly comedic crime thriller Fargo. This role earned Macy an Academy Award nomination for Best ing Actor. He went on to play such renowned roles as Major Caldwell in Air Force One, Little Bill Thompson in Boogie Nights, Arbogast in the 1998 remake of Psycho, Quiz Kid Donnie Smith in Magnolia, and Paul Kirby in Jurassic Park III. In Ricky Stanicky, Macy plays the role of Ted Summerhayes, the protagonists’ stoic, stuck-up boss.

Anja Savcic As Susan

Anja Savcic was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1992, and first broke out with the role of recovering alcoholic Claire Wilkes opposite Ron Livingston in the main cast of Loudermilk. Savcic has also played other film and TV roles like Scarlet Leyendecker in the crime drama series Big Sky, Skye in the fantasy series The Magicians, Lottie in the made-for-TV movie Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story, and Litzbitz Trost in the sci-fi comedy detective series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. In Ricky Stanicky, Savcic plays Susan, the wife of Santino’s character J.T. and mother of his child.

Ricky Stanicky ing Cast & Characters

Jeff Ross as Rabbi Greenberg: Rabbi Greenberg is played by Jeff Ross. Ross has been given the nickname “the Roastmaster General” due to his unique brand of insult humor and his frequent appearances as a roaster on the Comedy Central Roast series. Ross is best known for his standup comedy, but he has also played other acting roles like Oscar in American Dreamz, a wedding band leader in Along Came Polly, and the voice of an internet troll in The Emoji Movie.

Jane Badler as Miriam Summerhayes: Jane Badler appears in the Ricky Stanicky cast as Ted’s wife, Miriam Summerhayes. Badler is best known for her role as Diana, the leader of the Visitors, in the V franchise, extending from the original 1983 miniseries to its 1984 sequel, V: The Final Battle, to the ensuing TV series and its 2009 reboot. She also played Dina in Virtual Revolution and Diana Marshall in a 25-episode run of Neighbours.

Source: IndieWire