According to Deadline, Netflix has revealed the full ensemble cast for director Brett Haley’s forthcoming film adaptation of Sorta Like A Rock Star, based on Silver Lining’s Playbook author Matthew Quick’s YA novel of the same name. Golden Globe winner Carol Burnett (The Carol Burnett Show) and Emmy Award-nominated actor-comedian Fred Armisen have been cast in the film along with Rhenzy Feliz (Marvel’s Runaways), Justina Machado (One Day At A Time), Judy Reyes (Claws), Gerald Isaac Waters (Angie Tribeca), Taylor Richardson (Slender Man), and Anthony Jacques (Atypical).
They will be joining previously announced cast member Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), who is set to lead the ensemble cast in her first non-animated feature film. Production is scheduled to begin next month.
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Sorta Like A Rock Star is will be a coming-of-age film that follows the story of a teenage girl who, despite her difficult circumstances, is preternaturally optimistic about the world. She often helps those around her, resulting in strong bonds with a disparate group of outsiders in her community, until she faces a devastating loss and must confront her own challenges.
The novel was first published in 2010. Its official book synopsis reads: “Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom’s boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (aka Thrice B) have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). But Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. Instead, she focuses on bettering the lives of her alcoholic mother and her quirky circle of friends: a glass-ceiling-breaking single mother raising a son diagnosed with autism; Father Chee and The Korean Divas for Christ (soul-singing ESL students); a nihilist octogenarian; a video-game-playing gang of outcasts; and a haiku-writing war vet. But then a fatal tragedy threatens Amber’s optimism—and her way of life. Can Amber continue to be the princess of hope?”
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Brett Haley (Hearts Beat Loud) has signed on to replace actress Bryce Dallas Howard as the film’s director. Howard has exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. Sorta Like A Rock Star will be produced by Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman along with Temple HIll Entertainment’s Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner.
You can pick up a copy of the book here.
