Things are moving quickly on MGM’s musical remake of the 1983 comedy Valley Girl. Just last week it was reported that Rachel Lee Goldenberg had been signed to direct the project and now it looks as if they have found their titular star. Deadline is reporting that Jessica Rothe has been picked to headline the cast of the film.
This will be the second film musical for Rothe, who has a supporting role in director Damien Chazelle’s upcoming Lala Land, which opens next month. She also has amassed a fairly diverse resume in relatively short time with credits in James Franco’s upcoming The Masterpiece, the horror film Half to Death from director Christopher Landon and the romance Forever My Girl.
Amy Talkington and Matt Smith have penned the screenplay for the remake of writer/director Martha Coolidge’s tale of two southern California star-crossed lovers. The original Valley Girl‘s soundtrack helped to boost the careers of a number of New Wave artists including Modern English, the Plimsouls and Josie Cotton. There is still no word as to whether the film will be a jukebox musical using songs of the era or if new tunes are being written for it.
Production is expected to start early next year.
