A humorous exploration of love, grief, and humor set in Staten Island, featuring a royal protagonist

In the poignant comedy-drama "The King of Staten Island," Pete Davidson's character, Scott, vents about emergency responders having children during a baseball game, a scene that resonates deeply with those who have experienced loss.

Behind the scenes, the script for the film underwent a significant transformation. Initially, it was 90 pages of jokes, but Judd Apatow, the film's director, writer, and producer, filled in the voids and gave it an arc and a story.

The film is loosely based on the life of Davidson, who lost his father, firefighter Scott Davidson, during the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. Steve Buscemi, who plays the role of Scott Carlin, the father of the main character, shares a personal connection with the film. Buscemi was a firefighter in New York in the 1980s.

Bill Burr, who portrays Ray, Margie's boyfriend, was cast due to his comic talent and intriguing history with Davidson. The character of Margie, inspired by Davidson's real-life mother, Amy, was brought to life by Oscar winner Marisa Tomei.

During the production of "The King of Staten Island," Davidson surrounded himself with close friends, family members, and longtime idols. Judd Apatow, who first met Davidson when he directed him in a cameo on "Trainwreck," played a significant role in the film's creation.

Apatow wanted the character in the film to open up to love and potentially have a father figure in his life. The script for "The King of Staten Island" was formed from hours of conversations between Apatow, Davidson, and Dave Sirus, who started working together on the script after Davidson met Sirus when he was 18.

The filmmakers made efforts to capture the authenticity of Staten Island and the life of New York firefighters. Production designer Kevin Thompson researched and visited 20 firehouses on Staten Island to ensure accuracy in the depiction of firefighters' lives in the film.

Barry Mendel, a two-time Academy Award-nominated producer, saw Davidson perform stand-up comedy and was impressed by his unique style. He later joined the production team for "The King of Staten Island."

"The King of Staten Island" is a fictionalized version of autobiographical events, similar to "8 Mile" and "The Big Sick." It serves as a testament to Davidson's life experiences and emotions, skillfully woven into a compelling narrative by Apatow, Davidson, and Sirus.

A humorous exploration of love, grief, and humor set in Staten Island, featuring a royal protagonist