I just finished watching the first season of HBO’sEuphorialast week, and was greatly impressed by the entire young cast, includingBarbie Ferreira, who plays cam girl Kat Hernandez. Well I’m not the only who was impressed, as Ferreira has just landed a lead role alongsideHaley Lu Richardsonin the HBO Max movieUNpregnant.
Rachel Lee Goldenberg(The Mindy Project) is directing from a script byJenni HendricksandTed Caplan, who adapted their own YA book of the same name. The coming-of-age story follows a Missouri teen (Richardson) who embarks on a 900-mile road trip to New Mexico in a stolen El Camino with her ex-best friend (Ferreira) in order to obtain a legal abortion – though the ‘a-word’ is, curiously, never once mentioned in HBO Max’s press release. Instead, the streamer keeps referring to it as “a decision,” which makes me wonder how they’ll deal with any potential controversy down the line.
Greg Berlantiis producing with his partnerSarah Schechter, whileErik Feigis producing with his PictureStart execsLucy KitadaandJessica Switch. Berlanti recently signed a $400 million dollar deal to remain in the Warners family as well as produce movies for HBO Max, and this is one of the streamer’s first features, so executives were clearly passionate about the material.
“We want to create authentic, relevant films that are told with grace and humor to serve our young adult audience, and this is exactly that," saidSarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. Production is expected to start this fall in New Mexico, and the film is expected to be ready in time for the launch of HBO Max in 2020 according tothe Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news.
Ferreira boasts over 1.3 million followers on Instagram thanks to her work as an actress and model, and herEuphoriafanbase is likely familiar with Richardson, who starred oppositeCole Sprousein the teen dramaFive Feet Apartand playedHailee Steinfeld’s best friend inThe Edge of Seventeen. Richardson also appeared inM. Night Shyamalan’sSplitand has worked twice with directorKogonada, including his upcoming sci-fi dramaAfter Yangfrom A24. She’s represented by Gersh and 3 Arts Entertainment, while Ferreira is repped by Aperture Talent Agency and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.
