Zoey Deutch is preparing for a busy stretch at the box office, with several films scheduled for release over the coming months. Among them is the comedy Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, where she stars opposite Jon Hamm in a story built around an unconventional relationship agreement that sends her character on an unexpected trip to Hollywood.
While promoting the film during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Deutch recalled an amusing moment from the production that initially left her puzzled. The first scene she filmed with Hamm took place inside a hot air balloon, where the actor appeared to be deeply engaged in a phone conversation as cameras prepared to roll.
A Podcast Recording Happening Mid-Filming
According to Deutch, she assumed Hamm’s call must have been something important because the pair were standing only a short distance apart in the balloon basket. Rather than interrupt him, she waited until filming got underway.
The explanation came about a month later when she was browsing on her phone and discovered that Hamm’s conversation had actually been part of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. The recording had taken place from the hot air balloon set, turning what seemed like a private call into a memorable behind-the-scenes anecdote.
A Comedy Built Around a Celebrity “Hall Pass”
Directed by David Wain and co-written with Ken Marino, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass follows Gail, played by Deutch, after her fiancé uses the couple’s agreed-upon celebrity “hall pass.” Determined to even the score, she heads to Hollywood hoping to track down Jon Hamm, who appears in the film as himself.
The project originally carried the working title I’ll Take the Hamm, reflecting Gail’s quest before adopting its current name ahead of release. During her television interview, Deutch jokingly teased audiences by saying they would have to watch the film to find out whether her character succeeds in meeting Hamm.
An Unusual Hot Air Balloon Tradition
The balloon sequence also reminded Deutch of another unusual coincidence in her career. She noted that the only times she has ever ridden in a hot air balloon have been while working with actors associated with Top Gun: Maverick. Before filming with Hamm, she had previously taken a balloon ride alongside Glen Powell after the pair starred together in the 2018 romantic comedy Set It Up.
Photo Credit: Juan Rico / BACKGRIDA Busy Year Ahead
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is one of several projects keeping Deutch in the spotlight this year. Alongside the comedy, she also lends her voice to the animated feature Minions & Monsters, making July a particularly active month in her release schedule.
As the film reaches audiences, stories like Deutch’s recollection of Hamm’s unexpected podcast recording offer a glimpse into the lighter moments behind the production. What first looked like an important phone call turned out to be a podcast interview—one that became an amusing memory from the cast’s very first day filming together.
