Ryan Murphy’s The Prom finds lead in newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman
Deadline has brought word that after months of searching for the right actress, Ryan Murphy’s upcoming Netflix film The Prom has found its lead in the form of up-and-coming actress Jo Ellen Pellman (The Deuce), with the cast also adding Logan Riley Hassel, Sofia Deler, Nico Greetham and Nathaniel J. Potvin.
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Set in Indiana, The Prom follows the story of a group of four down-and-out theater actors who tries to help a teenage girl whose school prom was canceled when she tried to bring her girlfriend as her prom date. The creative team behind the popular musical consists of Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer, Elf the Musical) and Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), who are the musical’s composer and lyricist, respectively. Tony Award winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Beguelin have also written the book based on Jack Vierel’s original concept.
The upcoming film will be produced by Bill Damaschke (Shrek the Musical) and Dori Berinstein (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest). Nicholaw, Sklar, Beguelin and Martin will also be joining Murphy for the film’s creative production.
In addition to Pellman, the cast features an a-list roster with Meryl Streep (The Laundromat), James Corden (Cats), Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Keegan-Michael Key (Toy Story 4), Andrew Rannells (Big Mouth) and Ariana DeBose (West Side Story).
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Washington is set to star in the action drama Shadow Force alongside Sterling K. Brown. She’s also set to co-star with Reese Witherspoon in Hulu’a Little Fires Everywhere.
Production is set to begin next month, with a planned release date in the fall of 2020 to get in on potential for awards season.
(Photo Credit: Ambe J Photography)
