New Zealand-born comic Rhys Darby celebrates an incredible comedy career in his latest stand-up special, 25 Years, which will debut on 800 Pound Gorilla’s new streaming service, Gorilla Comedy+, on July 23. This special celebrates 25 years of his career, bringing back some of his most iconic stand-up pieces.
Rhys says, “It's hard to believe I've been doing stand up for 25 years. You know, in most jobs, they'd give you a raise or a company car but all I got was this incredibly funny show that showcased my unbelievable talents.”
Rhys is known for his fantastical storytelling and physical comedy prowess and loves to bring his imagination alive onstage. He has wowed audiences from NZ, to the UK, to the US and is a regular headline act at festivals including Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Fringe.
Best known as a comedy actor and voice artist, Rhys burst onto our screens as the loveable, inept manager, Murray in Flight of the Conchords. He has gone on to star in movies like Jumanji and What We Do In The Shadows and a broad range of TV shows including Our Flag Means Death.
25 Years is his 6th comedy special, with previous specials including Imagine That (2007), It’s Rhys Darby Night (2011), This Way to Spaceship (2012), I’m A Fighter Jet (2017) and Mystic Time Bird (2021).
“I'm very happy to share this latest special with the world,” says Rhys. “It's all my favorite madcap mayhem from the last twenty five years. All killer no filler! Enjoy.”
25 Years will be available only on Gorilla Comedy+ beginning on July 23 with a worldwide release slated for August 18 on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube channel.
ABOUT RHYS: Rhys Darby is an actor, writer, podcaster,stand-up comedian and ex NZ Army signaller from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Darby first captured US audiences as Murray, the loveable, but ultimately inept manager in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords. He has gone on to star in a plethora of TV and film roles, from Yes Man and Pirate Radio (The Boat that Rocked) to Nigel in the Jumanji reboots. On the small screen he has brought his talents to shows like Wrecked, The X Files and Star Trek, Strange New Worlds. Most recently he starred as the gentleman pirate, Stede Bonnet in Our Flag Means Death with longtime collaborator Taika Waititi. Darby has also starred in films like What we do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Next Goal Wins, all directed by Waititi. Darby is never far from his stand-up roots and is currently touring his latest show, The Legend Returns. His stand-up has been described as a sensational blend of sound effects, characterizations and askew observations. Rhys has five stand-up specials’, Imagine That! (2008), It’s Rhys Darby Night! (2011) and This Way to Spaceship, (2012) and I’m a Fighter Jet (2017) and Mystic Time Bird (2021). This Way to Spaceship was based on his debut novel of the same name, “A loosely autobiographical end of world companion” in 2012. In between his huge adventures Darby is based in Los Angeles with his family where they like to hike, eat tacos and explore the world.