Yahoo Lifestyle Lucy Hale to Star in Romantic Comedy ‘Princess’ From ‘The Cooler’ Screenwriter Frank Hannah (EXCLUSIVE)
“Pretty Little Liars” and “Which Brings Me to You” star Lucy Hale will topline the romantic comedy “Princess” from “The Cooler” screenwriter Frank Hannah.
Daniel Baur’s K5 Intl. has boarded “Princess” as its international sales agent and will commence sales at Berlinale’s European Film Market.
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The plot centers on a woman who finally meets the man of her dreams, but first, she must contend with her beloved’s bulldog, Princess, who has a history of destroying any relationship her owner engages in. Think “Monster-in-Law” in tone.
Principal photography is anticipated to commence in Ireland spring 2025.
Best known for her breakout role on the hit series “Pretty Little Liars,” Hale has gone on to become an international star through films such as the romantic comedy “Which Brings Me to You,” Vertical’s “The Hating Game” and Sony’s “Fantasy Island.” Hale will star in Lionsgate and BuzzFeed Studios’ upcoming action comedy “F*** Marry Kill,” which hits theaters March 2025.
Two-time Emmy-winning stunt coordinator Shauna Duggins will make her feature directorial debut. She directs on Ryan Murphy’s “9-1-1” and directs second unit on “Yes Day!” and “Family Switch.” She directed second unit “GLOW,” “Dexter: Original Sin,” “The Last Thing He Told Me” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.”
Duggins recently worked on “Deadpool & Wolverine” with Jennifer Garner, whom she has doubled for since “Alias.” Duggins has also doubled for Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett.
Duggins made history at the creative Emmys by becoming the first woman to win an Emmy for outstanding stunt coordination and won the SAG award for her stunt work on “GLOW.”
“Lucy Hale is one of the most dynamic and versatile actresses of her generation, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to collaborate with her on this wildly fun and unpredictable adventure,” Duggins stated. “I can’t wait to explore our comedic choreography as she takes on the ultimate challenge – outlasting and outwitting her canine adversary!”
Strong Island’s Christopher Tuffin (“Sound of Freedom,” “Peppermint”), who conceived the story and characters, will produce alongside Emmy nominee Renee Tab of Sentient (“Maps to the Stars,” “Sound of Freedom”), Amanda Delaplaine (upcoming “Alphas”), and Ari Novak (“Sleeping Dogs”).
“I began my career in comedy working with the Farrelly Bros, Ben Stiller and Jerry Lewis, and as a manager for several of the biggest names in stand-up, so ‘Princess’ is part of a natural evolution for me to return to producing the kind of slapstick, take-no-prisoners humor I grew up on,” Tuffin says. “Blend that with the physical comedy that Shauna Duggins is known for throughout Hollywood and the breakout comedy potential heightens exponentially.”
Julie Kroll, Nadezda Motina, Aram Ovannisyan, Sophie Delaplaine and Baur will executive produce alongside Todd Slater and Brandon Evans on behalf of Brick Lane, which also serves as the production service company in Ireland.
Strong Island’s production and finance legal/business affairs will be handled by Jere R. Hausfater and Larry Weinberg.
Hale is repped by CAA and Elissa Leeds at Reel Talent Management. Duggins is repped by Sentient Entertainment, Strong Island and UTA. Hannah is repped by Strong Island.
K5 Intl.’s slate of films includes Mafia-JFK assassination story “November 1963,” directed by Roland Joffé, starring John Travolta, Dermot Mulroney and Mandy Patinkin, along with “The Butler,” starring Jean Reno. Last year, K5 Intl. was re-launched with Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga.”
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