Ayvan Williams, Jessica Belkin & Savannah Lee Smith Set For Coming-Of-Age Comedy ‘The Upside Of Unrequited’ From Shakespeare Sisters
EXCLUSIVE: Newcomer Ayvan Williams, Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story) and Savannah Lee Smith (Gossip Girl) are set to lead The Upside of Unrequited, a coming-of-age comedy from Hillary and Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare — aka Shakespeare Sisters — that will go into production this summer.
The Upside of Unrequited adapts the book of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Becky Albertalli, whose first book was adapted into the Fox hit Love, Simon. Belkin and Williams will play 17-year-old fraternal twins Molly and Cassie, who are inseparable but opposites in every way. Molly’s expertise is unrequited love — she’s lived through it 26 times. She crushes hard and often, but always in secret. Meanwhile, Cassie is confident picking up girls. She’s a total player, dashing off to report all the juicy details of her hook-ups to her sister. When the twins’ best friend Olivia gets her first boyfriend and becomes all about the couple, they swear they’ll never do the same… until Cassie meets her dream girl, Mina. Suddenly, Molly is the last single girl standing.
More from Deadline
Molly Shannon Joins Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser In Amazon MGM’s Action Comedy ‘Balls Up’
'Singing In My Sleep': Jessica Belkin & Malin Akerman Set For Feature Musical
Shakespeare Sisters will produce alongside Matt Luber and Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment, with Albertalli exec producing.
Said the author in a statement to Deadline, “It’s been so exciting watching this project come together with so much energy, passion, and care. I’m already so in love with this brilliant cast and the Shakespeare Sisters’ beautiful screenplay, and I can’t wait for all the next steps.”
In addition to American Horror Story, Belkin has previously been seen on shows like Just Add Magic and The Neighbors. On the film front, her most recent credits include the indies Last Straw and Hunt Club.
Previously seen starring in Max’s reboot of Gossip Girl, Smith will next appear in Prime Video’s series adaptation of Cruel Intentions.
A London-based duo, Shakespeare Sisters previously wrote, directed and co-produced the romantic drama Much Ado and rom-com Soundtrack to Sixteen.
Williams is repped by Take 3 Talent, The Boysen Agency, and Rebel Creative Group; Belkin by Paradigm, Atlas Artists, and Schuller Talent; Smith by Independent Artist Group, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer; and Shakespeare Sisters by Luber Roklin.
Best of Deadline
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
