IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Lonely Island film deal is good reason to revisit classic 'SNL' shorts

Celebrated for Digital Shorts on “Saturday Night Live,” Golden Globe winner Andy Samberg and fellow members of the musical comedy trio The Lonely Island reportedly will take a more long-form approach — with a feature film on the silver screen.Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone have inked a movie deal with Universal, according to Deadline. The three will star in and produce the untitle
Image: The Lonely Island
CULVER CITY, CA - MAY 19: (L-R)Actors/comedians Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island perform during \"The Big Live Comedy Show\" presented by YouTube Comedy Week held at Culver Studios on May 19, 2013 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for YouTube)Mark Davis / Getty Images file
Image: The Lonely Island
Actors/comedians, from left, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island.Mark Davis / Today

Celebrated for Digital Shorts on “Saturday Night Live,” Golden Globe winner Andy Samberg and fellow members of the musical comedy trio The Lonely Island reportedly will take a more long-form approach — with a feature film on the silver screen.

Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone have inked a movie deal with Universal, according to Deadline. The three will star in and produce the untitled project, with comedy guru and recent TODAY guest host Judd Apatow also serving as a producer.

If+you+like+"Hollywood",+maybe+you'll+like+this!+http://t.co/k4ZfbwXVzA

—+Jorma+Taccone+(@jormataccone)+August+8,+2014+

It makes one wonder: Will the screenplay contain completely new material, or will there be callbacks to characters and scenarios from their hit music videos?

Yes, Justin Timberlake is back to bringing it in the music studio, but you might not have to twist his arm to reprise his early-’90s R&B character from "D--- in a Box."

JT’s not the only Grammy-winning pop star who could make a cameo. Maybe Rihanna will show up and rob a bank with her selectively bashful Clyde equivalent, Shy Ronnie. (Or perhaps "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm could return as a particularly obedient hostage, too.)

And what blockbuster movie would be complete without an appearance by Captain Jack Sparrow, as portrayed by Michael Bolton? Sorry, Johnny Depp. (Although we're pretty sure The Lonely Island guys would find something for him to do, too.)

And if our heroes need to escape assorted bad guys, let’s all hope that they choose an escape plan that involves a boat and T-Pain, because “Anything is possibllllllle!” To put it another way, “This boat is real.”

If you love The Lonely Island and need something a little more, uh, family friendly, consider the group’s sweet collaboration with Tegan and Sara for “The LEGO Movie’s” “Everything is AWESOME!!!”

After all that, if you still can’t get enough of Andy, Akiva and Jorma, check out The Lonely Island’s YouTube page.

Follow TODAY.com writer Chris Serico on Twitter.