DeYoung began his directing career after college, and met comedians John Early and Kate Berlant in
improv classes. DeYoung thought of the idea for
Friendship after a negative experience with a colleague. DeYoung decided on casting his friend Tim Robinson while writing the film's screenplay, whom he had first met at the wedding of
Conner O'Malley and
Aidy Bryant, the former of which also appears in
Friendship. The film was shot in
Yonkers, New York, with actors
Kate Mara and
Paul Rudd joining the main cast. The film premiered at
Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and was the second runner up for the
People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness.
A24 acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and the film was theatrically released on May 9, 2025. It was positively reviewed and went on to be nominated for the
Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy and the
Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay. == Filmography ==