IFC Films has nabbed U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to Whitney Cummings’s “The Female Brain.” The ensemble comedy is based on a book of the same name by neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine — it’s a bestseller that made the controversial argument that women’s behavior differed from that of men because of hormonal differences.

“The Female Brain” is directed by Cummings, who also stars as Dr. Brizendine. The cast includes Toby Kebbell, Beanie Feldstein, Cecily Strong, Sofia Vergara, Deon Cole, Blake Griffin, Lucy Punch, and James Marsden. The project was financed by Black Bicycle Entertainment and produced by Erika Olde and Night and Day Pictures’ Michael Roiff. IFC will release the picture on Feb. 9, 2018. Along with directing and appearing in the movie, Cummings co-wrote it with Neal Brennan.

Cummings, a popular stand-up comic, starred in the NBC sitcom “Whitney” and co-created CBS’ “2 Broke Girls.” This marks her feature film directing debut.

According to the logline, “The Female Brain” looks at the complications involved in modern romance. It zeroes in on Brizendine’s research into how male and female brains process things at varying stages of a romance — the topics she explores range from the difference in how genders express emotions to their varying reactions to a bathroom remodel gone awry. Ultimately, Brizendine is forced to contend with a bias that she did not initially consider.

“I feel very lucky that someone let me make a comedy about neurology, a topic that’s normally not associated with hilarity. I think given the current news cycle, a movie that scientifically proves that women are not ‘crazy’ or ‘psycho’ might just be kind of refreshing,” Cummings said in a statement.

The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, exec VP of acquisitions and productions at Sundance Selects/IFC Films, with CAA representing the filmmakers. Hyde Park Entertainment is selling the foreign rights.