The ensemble cast has been set for Mandate Pictures’ coming-of-age comedy LOL. Writer/director Lisa Azuelos returns with an American version of her 2008 French box office hit Laughing Out Loud. Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore star in the film which recently began principal photography on location in Michigan, Chicago and Paris. Joining the cast are Ashley Greene (“The Twilight Saga”), Douglas Booth, Adam Sevani, George Finn, Ashley Hinshaw, and newcomers Lina Esco and Tanz Watson. Thomas Jane, Jay Hernandez, Marlo Thomas, Austin Nichols, Gina Gershon, Fisher Stevens and Nora Dunn round out the ensemble.
Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher of Double Feature Films and Tish Cyrus will produce. Mandate President Nathan Kahane, Lisa Azuelos, and Romain Le Grand will executive produce. Double Feature Films’ Taylor Latham, Mandate’s Nicole Brown and Jim Powers will serve as co-producers.
The story is described as follows:
In a world connected by YouTube, iTunes and Facebook, Lola (Cyrus) and her friends navigate the peer pressures of high school romance and friendship while dodging their sometimes overbearing and confused parents. When Lola’s mom, Anne (Moore), “accidentally” reads her teenage daughter’s racy journal, she realizes just how wide their communication gap has grown. Through hilarious and heartfelt moments between mother and daughter, “LOL” is an authentic coming-of-age story for the way we live now.
Lola’s high school inner-circle includes Kyle (Booth) Lola’s BFF, whom she realizes is her love interest; Lola’s two best friends Janice (Esco) and Emily (Hinshaw); Max (Sevani) a nerd that Emily secretly hooks up with; Lola’s ex-boyfriend and Kyle’s best friend Chad (Finn); Lloyd (Watson) who is part of their crew; and Ashley (Greene) the sexy girl who has set her sights on Kyle, much to Lola’s dismay. Thomas Jane plays Alan, Anne’s ex-husband and Lola’s father. Jay Hernandez plays James, a dangerously cute, good-natured cop dating Anne who is able to offer a little perspective on her teenage daughter. Austin Nichols plays Mr. Ross, the heartthrob math teacher, who all the girls have a crush on. Marlo Thomas plays Gran, Anne’s sophisticated mother whose relaxed demeanor allows her to be the easy-going bystander when it comes to watching Anne raising children of her own. Gina Gershon and Fisher Stevens play Anne’s closest friends and confidants and Nora Dunn plays Emily’s mom.
Collaborating with Lisa Azuelos behind the scenes are: director of photography Kieran McGuigan; production designer Happy Massee; editor Myron Kerstein; costume designer Hope Hanafin; and make-up department head Sarah Mays.
