Natalie Lynch and Tara Jayn to Star in Apocalyptic Buddy Comedy
Real-life best friends and longtime comedy partners Natalie Lynch and Tara Jayn are stepping into the spotlight this fall as the co-leads, co-writers, and creative force behind the upcoming dark buddy comedy Turns Out, It’s the Apocalypse… We Think?, a genre-blending feature that dares to ask: what if the world ended and the only people left were the two least qualified to handle it?
Lynch stars as Karen, a cheerful optimist with a prepper boyfriend, gas mask, and a golden wolf statue. Jayn plays Amanda, her snarky, rational best friend who’s trying to keep them alive—and keep Karen from spiraling. Together, they anchor a film that’s equal parts Waiting for Godot, Shaun of the Dead, and Broad City.
“We wanted to make a movie that felt like what it’s been like living through the last five years,” says Tara Jayn. “That feeling of not knowing if things are actually falling apart, or if reality just isn't real. And doing it all with your best friend, while slowly losing your mind.”
“At its heart, this is a movie about friendship under pressure,” adds Natalie Lynch. “Karen and Amanda love each other, but that doesn’t mean they won’t fuss about coffee spoons and ration Doritos behind each other’s backs. We wanted to explore what survival looks like when it’s emotional as much as physical.”
The pair—known for their viral YouTube series Natalie and Tara Try Stuff and their 17-year creative partnership under Sneaky Pineapple Productions—co-wrote the film and will also serve as executive producers. They’ve built a loyal audience with their character-driven comedy, unfiltered friendship, and ability to find absurdity in the everyday. Turns Out, It’s the Apocalypse… We Think? marks their debut feature as writers and stars.
The script has already garnered industry recognition as Winner for Best Comedy Screenplay at the Cordillera International Film Festival, Second-Rounder at the Austin Film Festival, Second Place in Comedic screenplays at the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards and Rocket City Film Festival, Finalist at the Broad Humor Film Festival, Quarter-Finalist for the Emerging Screenwriters, and Feature Film Runner-up at Desertscape signaling early excitement for the project’s sharp writing and unique comedic voice.
“Natalie and Tara have this lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry,” says director Mike Hayhurst (And Through the Portal We Go, Cook With The Heart). “They’re hilarious, but they also bring real emotional weight to a story that, at its core, is about navigating uncertainty. It’s rare to see comedy this smart and grounded in the same breath as apocalypse storytelling. They pull it off effortlessly.”
Set to begin filming in Alabama in early 2026, Turns Out, It’s the Apocalypse… We Think? captures the collective anxiety of a world still grappling with pandemics, climate crises, and existential dread. But rather than offering escape, the film uses humor as a tool for survival—finding the absurd in the terrifying, and the human in the hopeless.
“This movie is for anyone who’s ever felt like they were waiting for answers that never came,” says Hayhurst. “And for anyone who had to carry on anyway—with duct tape, tequila, and someone who drives you absolutely crazy but knows you better than anyone else.”
With a mix of dry humor, eerie tension, and absurd emotional honesty, Turns Out, It’s the Apocalypse... We Think? promises to deliver a fresh take on the end-of-the-world genre—one that’s less about survival and more about friendship, fridge smells, and what happens when the apocalypse doesn’t go according to plan.
