The true engine of their relationship in the current era is Fruit Tree, the production outfit they founded in August 2020. Entering into an initial two-year first-look television deal with indie powerhouse A24, the banner was established to produce unconventional, creator-driven narrative work.
Fruit Tree did not exist merely as a vanity imprint. McCary stepped away from his directing post at SNL to direct full-time creative development alongside Stone and producer Ali Herting. The slate quickly materialized:
- When You Finish Saving the World (2022): Directed by Jesse Eisenberg, marking Fruit Tree’s debut feature release at Sundance.
- The Curse (2023, 2024): The polarizing, critically lauded Showtime satire created by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, starring Stone in an executive-produced tour de force.
- Problemista (2024): Written and directed by Julio Torres, reuniting the creative circle that first bridged McCary and Stone on SNL.
- I Saw the TV Glow (2024): Jane Schoenbrun’s psychological horror sensation that solidified Fruit Tree’s reputation as champion of daring queer and trans cinema.
- A Real Pain (2024): Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, acquired by Searchlight Pictures for $10 million out of Sundance.
By moving behind the camera together, McCary and Stone built a sustainable professional ecosystem. Stone leverages her star power to secure financing and distribution for risky concepts. McCary applies his dry comedic ear and deep network of New York alternative comedy writers to scout boundary-pushing material.
