Eva Longoria has described directing her longtime friend Kim Kardashian in the upcoming comedy film The Fifth Wheel as a dream experience as the movie nears completion.
Speaking to People magazine, the 51-year-old actress and filmmaker said the project is currently in post-production. She revealed that her team is completing the final edit this week and that the movie is expected to premiere in the spring of next year.
Longoria told the publication that she was very excited about the film and had a wonderful time sharing the set with the 46-year-old television personality. She called Kardashian a dream and a very good friend, adding that collaborating with her on the feature was genuinely enjoyable.
Las Vegas plot and ensemble comedy cast
The Fifth Wheel centres on a group of close high school friends played by Nikki Glaser, Fortune Feimster and Brenda Song. When the three women reunite for a weekend in Las Vegas, their plans are upended by the arrival of a sexy stranger portrayed by Kardashian.
According to the official synopsis, the unexpected disruption when Kardashian's character turns up uninvited forces the childhood friends to confront their messy lives, their poor choices and their fraying friendships.
Alongside Kardashian, Glaser, Feimster and Song, the ensemble cast includes Will Ferrell, Casey Wilson, Kristen Wiig, 50 Cent and Jack Whitehall. Longoria praised the roster of performers as truly exceptional actors and said that when surrounded by so many comedic actors on set, it was very difficult not to have a good time every single day.
A 25-year friendship and comedic timing
Longoria had previously described working on The Fifth Wheel as her dream job and revealed that filming lasted just three months. She characterized the project as a big, bold female comedy strictly for an adult audience that carries a modern and timely aesthetic.
In earlier comments to People, the director called Kardashian the central pillar of the movie and noted that the two women have been friends for 25 years. According to Longoria, when she took on the directing role, Kardashian expressed relief that Longoria already knew she was funny.
Longoria agreed that Kardashian has an incredible sense of humour. She said she could not wait for audiences to see how great her friend is in the movie and expressed hope that the release would create momentum for more female comedies.
Looking back on her favourite moments from the shoot, Longoria said she loved simply sitting around and chatting with Kardashian and the rest of the cast. She praised Glaser as a person of tremendous depth with remarkable insight and wisdom beyond her years, and described Feimster as a bright presence who was a true joy to be around as the group laughed non-stop every day.
Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian film careers
The Fifth Wheel is Longoria's second feature film as a director. She made her feature directorial debut with the 2023 biographical drama Flamin' Hot, which tells the story behind the creation of the spicy Flamin' Hot Cheetos snack. Longoria first rose to international fame playing Gabrielle Solis on the television drama series Desperate Housewives and previously directed episodes of television comedies including Jane the Virgin and Black-ish.
Kardashian, who built a global profile through the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Kardashians as well as her shapewear brand Skims, has increasingly taken on scripted acting roles, including starring in American Horror Story: Delicate. Her co-stars Glaser and Feimster are prominent American stand-up comedians, Song is known for roles in Dollface and The Social Network, and Ferrell, Wiig and Wilson are all alumni of Saturday Night Live. The supporting cast is rounded out by British comedian Whitehall and Grammy-winning rapper and television producer 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson.
