Michaela Watkins To Star in Jessica Sanders’ Improvised Indie Comedy ‘I Want To Feel Fun’ as Filming Wraps

Filming has wrapped on Jessica Sanders’ improvised indie comedy feature “I Want To Feel Fun,” according to Deadline. The project marks an expansion of Sanders’ earlier work, with the film described as being based on her short of the same name, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year.

Deadline reports that Michaela Watkins, known for HBO’s Hacks, will star in the feature. Details on Watkins’ character or the full creative team were not included in the report, but the casting announcement positions the film within a recognizable mainstream talent lane while keeping the production framed as an indie improvisational comedy.

The Deadline report also lists an ensemble of performers connected to the film’s improv-driven format. Alongside Watkins, the cast includes Avi Rothman, Lilah Pate, Vivian Bang, Dave Merheje, Kiran Deol, Zainne Saleh, Finn Harry, Andrew Key, and Gene Kang.

Deadline describes the movie as an improvised comedy, indicating that the performances are expected to be built through a process that departs from fully scripted scene work. That approach is often associated with indie productions that seek flexibility in tone and dialogue, particularly for character-driven stories that can be shaped in production.

Because Deadline’s report is centered on the wrap and casting, it did not provide a release date, distribution plan, or details about where the film will premiere. The absence of those particulars means the next public milestone is likely to be announcements tied to post-production, festival targeting, and eventual acquisition.

The project’s origin story traces back to Sanders’ short “I Want To Feel Fun,” presented at Tribeca last year. Adapting a festival short into a feature is a common pathway for indie filmmakers, and the move typically reflects a combination of audience response, industry interest, and the ability to scale the short’s premise into a longer narrative arc.

With production now complete, the film moves into post-production, where editing, sound, and final picture lock will determine how the improvised material is shaped for screen. The cast list and the earlier festival pedigree may be used to position the film for buyers and festival programmers, but the specific timeline for those steps was not disclosed in the Deadline report.