Following the success of their 2024 Sundance breakout hit Thelma starring Academy Award nominee June Squibb (Nebraska), producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye have launched Bandwagon, an independent production company and creative incubator of original film and television projects with a special focus on comedy. The venture is backed by a core group of private investors, allowing Bandwagon to develop, produce, and control its original IP.
With this launch, Bandwagon also unveils its inaugural slate of projects, including writer-director Josh Margolin’s highly anticipated follow-up to Thelma, and a women’s basketball comedy written by Worth and frequent collaborator Chloe Searcy, inspired by their own recreational basketball team. Worth and Kaye will produce alongside Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, The White Lotus), who has become synonymous with women’s basketball as of late, and her Evil Hag Productions banner.
Bandwagon has closed a significant equity financing round led by key investors including Ann Lewnes (Two Brothers Productions), Bill and Emily Reedy (Peak 5 Films), Nathan Kondamuri (P&Co Productions), and Robert Wolf (32 Ventures), all of whom will also serve on Bandwagon’s advisory board. With investor backing and a slate of new projects, Bandwagon heads to Sundance which gets underway this week.
“We are thrilled to partner with such an amazing group of investors as we take this next step. Their support and belief in what we’re building is beyond appreciated and we can’t wait to learn from their collective expertise as we guide the company forward,” said Kaye.
“Launching at Sundance is especially meaningful for us–-not only is it where Thelma was first introduced to the world, but the Institute and its artist programs have been so important to my education and approach. We couldn’t think of a better place to introduce our slate and mark the start of an exciting new chapter for Bandwagon,” said Worth.
Bandwagon operates as a filmmaker-driven incubator, a model that allows the company to both develop and produce original material in house, working in close collaboration with a consistent group of creative artists. This is supported by their weekly writers’ group, Rock & Roll Universe, which brings together a talented roster of emerging writers and filmmakers. This strategy reflects Worth and Kaye’s commitment to the craft of producing, and an artist-first approach to development.
“We believe ‘indie’ is not a genre but a means of production, and aim to treat every movie like a blockbuster, no matter its budget. Comedy in particular deserves this approach–it can be unique, artful and impactful, and right now, audiences are clamoring for more of it,” shared Worth and Kaye in a joint statement.
Thelma garnered universal critical acclaim (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), while also becoming one of the highest grossing independent films of 2024. The $3M-budgeted action-comedy was a breakout success when it was released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures in the U.S. (VVS in Canada), and internationally by Universal Pictures, earning $13M at the global box office and millions more in streaming, home entertainment, and international sales. The film was nominated for numerous awards, including Best Comedy at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Worth began her career producing and acting in live shows and low-budget films with The Collectin–a theater and film collective she co-founded while studying at NYU–including features Running Wild, Shut Up and Drive (Tribeca 2015), and the comedy web-series Chloe & Zoë. From there, she joined Paramount Television, eventually segueing into a multi-year writing/producing deal with the studio. As a writer, worth has sold projects to Lionsgate, MTV and Netflix, among others. As a producer, her work has been supported by Sundance Catalyst, IFP/Gotham, and Film Independent. She was recently nominated for the Producers Award at the 2025 Independent Spirits for her work.
Kaye began his career at Anonymous Content before landing at the production label Mr. Mudd (Juno, Ghost World, The Perks of Being a Wallflower), founded by Lianne Halfon, Russ Smith, and John Malkovich. As Mr. Mudd’s longtime creative executive, he developed projects with a wide array of emerging filmmakers and established companies, including Lionsgate, Miramax, Vice, CBS, and FX. In addition to producing, he has served as a faculty member and thesis mentor at the AFI Conservatory, specializing in development.
Worth is repped by CAA, manager Adam Paulsen, and attorney Linda Lichter. Bandwagon was repped by Sophia Yen, Burak Ahmed, and Alison Gentry at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP on structuring and negotiating agreements with the investor group. Paulsen, Evan Nicholas, and Julia Nelson served as advisors to Worth and Kaye during the company raise.
