Director Chandler Levack, left to right, Megan Thee Stallion as Louise and Sadie Sandler as Devon are shown on the set of "Roommates" in this handout image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Scott Yamano/Netflix

For Canadian director Chandler Levack filming her new Netflix movie "Roommates" was filled with surreal moments. From Adam Sandler blasting Run DMC on set, to casting the heirs of Hollywood royalty, plus Megan Thee Stallion flying in for a one-day shoot.

"We knew we needed somebody really awesome for that last cameo," Levack said in an interview last week.

"All of us were like, completely flabbergasted, like, what? Megan Thee Stallion can be doing this? And she flew herself out from Houston."

The "Hot Girl Summer" rapper was top of mind for the casting directors for the character, and when she arrived on the New Jersey set, Levack said she was a "charisma bomb."

In the coming-of-age comedy Stallion goes toe-to-toe with Sadie Sandler's character Devon, but after trying to intimidate her while behind bars, the two quickly become friends and team up once they are released from prison.

"She's just a really brilliant actor," Levack said of the scene-stealing cameo.

"She's just so warm and funny and genuinely cared so much about her performance and connecting with Sadie. And just brought so much joy to the set."

The rapper, born Megan Pete, joined a cast that Levack said was filled with incredible young actors, which included Adam Sandler's daughter as the lead. She was also in charge of directing Laura Dern and Ben Harper's daughter Jaya Harper, Eddie Murphy's daughter Bella Murphy, Chris Rock's daughter Zahra Rock and?Martin Scorsese’s daughter, Francesca Scorsese.

"I felt the most responsibility, just for all the dads who I knew were going to be watching this movie. So, yeah, I just knew that it would hold it to a high standard."

"Roommates" follows Sadie Sandler's character Devon as she leaves for college and needs to find a perfect roommate. Enter Celeste, played by Chloe East, the popular girl everyone wants to be friends with. The two hit it off and move in together, only for audiences find out Celeste is not the best friend Devon was looking for.

Adam Sandler, who produced the film under his Happy Madison Productions banner, was impressed with Levack's 2022 breakout film "I Like Movies," and sent her the script.

"I think it's really rare that emerging female directors get to do huge studio Netflix movies with this kind of budget and cast and resources and you know he thought I could do that based on a tiny Canadian micro-budget that I shot during the pandemic," the Toronto-born director said.

"I think it just goes to showhe really takes chances on people, and really sees the potential in people and he's just a great artist and a great human being ... I got the best comedy filmmaking education you could ever have getting to spend a whole year with him and his family."

Toronto-born actor Billy Bryk, said he always wanted to be in a Happy Madison production, but he felt nervous on set because his character had to be mean to Sandler's daughter right in front of him and her mother.

"But he's so lovely. Him and Jackie are so lovely and they were so supportive and literally opened their doors for me and just were really wonderful. They're a really wonderful family."

In the film, audiences initially have rose-coloured glasses on for Bryk's character Michael, as Sadie Sandler's Devon falls for him. But those glasses are quickly ripped off.

"I think people will turn on him and sort of rightfully so. I think it's really just a testament to how likable Sadie is as Devon. You root for her so much that you really want something good for her ... people will kind of hate me a little bit, but that's OK," Bryk said.

The success of "Roommates" was complemented by Levack's theatrical film "Mile End Kicks." The two opened on the same weekend, a rare feat for any director,with "Roommates" ranking in the Top 5 most watched movies on Netflix and the seven-time Canadian Screen Award nominated "Mile End Kicks" grossing $325,000 to date at the Canadian box office.

"It's exciting. It's also just, you know, the product of many, many years of hard work and also not just me, but all the people that I collaborated with and got to work with. I'm just really grateful."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026