There is an alternate reality in which Nate Bargatze has been working in Hollywood for more than a decade already. In that reality, one of the many, semi-autobiographical sitcoms that he spent years pitching around town in the 2010s was greenlit. Maybe it even led to other opportunities in front of the camera.
In this reality, Hollywood had little interest in Bargatze or his ideas. It was “pass” after “pass” after “pass.” That is, until very recently. As his comedian friend and collaborator Julian McCullough put it, “Everything was a no for so long, and now, it’s crazy, everything is a yes.”
As it turns out, Bargatze didn’t need the traditional gatekeepers to muscle in. Rather, THR‘s cover star built the top-grossing touring business in the world, and now he’s parlaying that everyman appeal into a full-blown, family-friendly empire, aptly titled Nateland. Already, there are talent showcases, specials, podcasts, merch and movies — and, yes, one day there will be an amusement park.
“There’s this part of me that’s like, ‘Guys, how did you let me get this far?’” Bargatze said over dinner in Nashville this summer. “It’s like, ‘Your system was all I wanted. Why would you not just let me be a part of it? Why did you not see me?’ And there’s still someone in Hollywood going, ‘Wait, who is he? Oh yeah, that comedian.’ You’re like, are you crazy?”
Here’s a peek inside the company, which has about 15 full-time employees and five booming divisions.
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A Cruise, A Park and Other Nateland Experiences
The “Nateland Experiences” division is focused on bringing Nateland to its fans, be it in cruise form (see 2026’s Nateland voyage with Norwegian Cruise Line) or theme parks. Yes, plural. Nashville will be the first and primary location — rides and studio included — but smaller parks in other states could be next. “We’ve been in early discussions with some wealthy families and some governors of a couple of other states to do a Nateland-themed something, almost like a mini park,” says Nateland CEO Felix Verdigets. In Bargatze’s native Nashville, the goal is to build something that spans 80 to 100 acres, though the team’s waiting for the feasibility study to be completed before it determines the exact size and site. Per Bargatze, the park, which is still years off, will start with standalone rides, though if his movies become successful, he can imagine themed rides in the future. “When Walt did Disney, it wasn’t like it was all Star Wars,” he says.
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The “Big Dumb Eyes” Tour & More
For now, the touring division is focused exclusively on Bargatze. Fortunately, he grossed more than $80 million on the road last year, making him the top-grossing comedian by tens of millions. In fact, Bargatze sold more tickets to his shows than Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld and Sebastian Maniscalco combined. Even more impressive? Bargatze’s current tour, the “Big Dumb Eyes” tour, which includes matinee shows, a lucrative facet of being a clean, family-friendly comic, keeps smashing arena attendance records and is poised to break last year’s record.
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Movies, Movies, Movies
Increasingly, Hollywood will be Bargatze’s focus. In fact, his next tour will be his last precisely so that he can focus his attention on movie-making. First up, his theatrical debut, a Mr. Mom-esque comedy called The Breadwinner, which he also co-wrote and produces. It’s slated to roll out in theaters in early 2026. To Bargatze, it felt like an ideal first foray, since the character, a bumbling dad named Nate, and its comedy, will feel familiar to his fans. And while he’s already texting TriStar president Nicole Brown about sequels, his likely follow-up will be a comedy about a group of friends who head to Dwyane Wade’s Miami fantasy camp to relive their basketball dreams. According to Verdigets, who was in Los Angeles for the pitch, there were multiple bidders, all very eager to be in the Bargatze business. Fortunately for them, there are at least nine other scripts, three animated projects and two game shows in development at Nateland. All are decidedly family-friendly, just as his stand-up has been.
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Books, Koozies & T-Shirts
Tour merch is traditionally more lucrative for musicians, but Bargatze’s team recently invested in the space. The division, run by his younger sister, Abigail, offers themed shirts, bags and koozies. To appeal to Bargatze fans, that merch typically features phrases like, “Nate Bargatze Community College” (the comedian famously dropped out of community college), “Water Meter Reader” (one of Bargatze’s early gigs) and “Reading is the Key to Smart.” To that end, the division also encompass books, including his NYT best-seller, Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From a Simpler Mind. The latter, which the self-proclaimed non-reader published this spring, offers a few blank pages so that the reader is able to “catch its breath.”
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The Farm System
The team looks at this division as its lab or farm system, focused on identifying talent and providing that talent with a path forward. The latter includes showcases, Nateland-produced stand-up specials and a growing podcast network. The only requirement is that the content be clean. Per Verdigets, the Nateland model goes something like this: “It’s, ‘Let’s put you on the Monday night show at Zanies. Oh, you really popped in the showcase, let’s get you into our podcast network. Oh, that’s working well, let’s get you in front of 20,000 people opening for Nate. Oh, that worked well, let’s write a part for you in our next movie.’” For Bargatze, who co-hosts “The Nateland Podcast” with his comedian buddies, it’s precisely what he wishes he had but didn’t when he was coming up. “I was so frustrated because I just felt like no one really guided you,” he says, “and I hated that feeling, so I really want to be a guiding force for the next generation.”
This story appeared in the Sept. 10 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
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Source: Hollywoodreporter
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