Seven-year-old newcomerMelody Hurd, who once appeared onEllen DeGeneres' talk show following a viral video, has been cast asKevin Hart’s daughter in Sony’s dramedyFatherhood, Collider has exclusively learned.
Paul Weitzis set to direct the adaptation ofMatthew Logelin’s bookTwo Kisses for Maddy, in which Logelin’s wife dies shortly after childbirth, leaving him to raise their daughter on his own.Dana Stevens(Safe Haven) adapted the book, and Weitz penned the current draft of the screenplay.
Producers includeMarty Bowenof Temple Hill,Peter Kiernanof Free Association and former Sony execDavid Beaubaire. Hart will also produce under his HartBeat banner, andFatherhoodis shaping up to be the actor’s next project following Sony’sJumanjisequel.
Melody and her older sisterLyric Hurdfirst gained attention thanks to a viral video in which they dance toZay HilfigerrrandZayion McCall’s hit song “Juju On That Beat.” The video earned them an invitation to appear onThe Ellen Degeneres Show, which led to plenty of commercial and print work, including a spot for JetBlue. The sisters also appear together inNoah Baumbach’s upcoming film starringScarlett JohanssonandAdam Driver. Those are some big names, for sure, butFatherhoodrepresents a big break for Hurd, considering it’s the co-lead in a studio movie. Meanwhile, Hart has lent his voice to several animated movies, but he doesn’t have a ton of experience acting opposite children, so this should present an exciting new challenge for the actor. Weitz is no stranger to working with kids, having castNicholas Houltin his breakout role inAbout a Boy.
Melody most recently wrappedPatrick Lussier’s feature filmTrick, in which she stars alongsideOmar Epps. She is represented by Buchwald and Teri B Talent Management in New York.
