Savannah Lee Smith (‘Gossip Girl’), will star in ‘The Upside of Unrequited,’ alongside newcomer Ayvan Williams and Jessica Belkin from ‘American Horror Story.’
The film adapts Becky Albertalli’s book of the same name. Albertalli, a New York Times bestselling author, previously saw her first book adapted into the Fox hit ‘Love, Simon.’
The film will star Savannah Lee Smith (known for Gossip Girl) as Olivia, the best friend of 17-year-old fraternal twins Molly and Cassie. Molly, played by newcomer Ayvan Williams, is a secret expert in unrequited love. Her confident twin, Cassie, portrayed by Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story), is the opposite.
When their friend Olivia enters a relationship, Molly and Cassie vow to stay single. However, Cassie soon finds love, leaving Molly as the last unattached twin. In an effort to reconnect, Molly agrees to a matchmaking plan set up by Cassie, but complications arise when Molly develops feelings for her co-worker, Reid.
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The coming-of-age comedy, directed by the Shakespeare Sisters (Hillary and Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare), is set to begin production this summer. Patrick Luwis (Barbie) and Matthew Sato (Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.) have also been cast in the feature.
The Shakespeare Sisters will produce ‘The Upside of Unrequited’ alongside Matt Luber and Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment, with Albertalli serving as executive producer. In a statement to Deadline, Albertalli expressed her excitement about the project, praising the cast and the screenplay.
Savannah Lee Smith, after starring in the reboot of ‘Gossip Girl,’ will next be seen in Prime Video’s adaptation of ‘Cruel Intentions.’ The London-based Shakespeare Sisters previously wrote, directed, and co-produced ‘Much Ado’ and ‘Soundtrack to Sixteen.’