Open Road Films Acquires Thorne’s Romantic Drama “Midnight Sun”

Bella Thorne is hitting the Open Road with her new film next July…

Open Road Films has acquired the U.S. rights to Midnight Sun, the Scott Speer-directed romantic drama starring the 19-year-old half-Cuban American actress, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rob Riggle and Quinn Shepard.

Bella Thorne

Open Road committed a seven-figure minimum guarantee and a P&A commitment for a wide release. The distributor has set a wide release for July 14, 2017.

The romantic drama follows 17-year-old Katie Price (Thorne), sheltered since childhood with a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Katie’s world opens up after dark when she ventures out to play her guitar for travelers. One night, she meets Charlie (Schwarzenegger), whom she has secretly admired for years. She hides her condition from him, and the two embark on a uniquely powerful romance that takes place over the summer.

The picture is based on the Japanese film Taiyo No Uta, and Eric Kirsten wrote the script.

Open Road confirmed the deal. “We were swept off our feet by this romantic film,” Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg said. “The movie had men and women – young and old – in tears, and we could tell immediately how strongly this story, and the fantastic performances by leads Bella and Patrick, would resonate with audiences of all ages.”

Guillen Starring in the Teen Comedy “Status Update”

Harvey Guillen is preparing for a status update

The Latino actor is starring in Scott Speer’s teen comedy Status Update, which is currently in production in Vancouver.

Harvey Guillen

The film, written by 17 Again scribe Jason Filardi, is billed as Big for the millennial generation and follows a high school kid, Kyle (Ross Lynch), who after being uprooted by the separation of his parents (Rob Riggle and Wendi McLendon-Covey) meets a foulmouthed mystical bearded guy (Josh Ostrovsky) who gives him a magical app that causes his social media updates to come true. As Kyle elevates to hero status at his new high school, his newfound powers abruptly backfire, sending him crashing back to earth.

Guillen is best known for his role in 2013’s The Internship, where he starred alongside Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. He also starred opposite Victoria Justice in the MTV series Eye Candy.

Thorne to Star in the YA Drama “Break My Heart 1,000 Times”

Bella Thorne is experiencing a heartbreak

The 18-year-old alf-Cuban American actress/singer will reunite with her Midnight Sun director Scott Speer as the lead in Break My Heart 1,000 Times.

Bella Thorne

Wonder Woman scribe Jason Fuchs will pen the adaptation of Daniel Waters’ YA novel for Gold Circle Films.

Described as The Fault in Our Stars meets The Sixth Sense, the film is set after a cataclysmic event has torn the barrier between our world and the next, leaving Remnants — ghostlike essences of the deceased — part of everyday life. After years of quiet coexistence with the living, a Remnant sends a threatening message to a young girl, propelling her on a mission that will forever change the course of her life.

Thorne recently wrapped the lead role in Speer’s Midnight Sun and has a slew of other projects in the works, including The BabysitterBoo! A Madea Halloween and the Freeform drama Famous in Love, which was picked up to series in April.

Thorne to Star Opposite Patrick Schwarzenegger in the YA Film “Midnight Sun”

Bella Thorne is ready to ride off into the Sun(set)

The 17-year-old half-Cuban American actress-singer will star opposite Patrick Schwarzenegger in Midnight Sun, a Young Adult (YA) love story.

Bella Thorne

Based on a 2006 Japanese film, Midnight Sun centers on Katie (Thorne), a 17-year-old sheltered since childhood and confined to her house during the day by a rare disease that makes even the smallest amount of sunlight deadly. Fate intervenes when she meets Charlie (Schwarzenegger) and they embark on a summer romance.

Scott Speer (Step Up: Revolution) is set to direct the film from a script by Eric Kirsten, with a September shooting start planned.

Thorne, a former Disney Channel star, recently signed on to the AwesomenessTV movie Shovel Buddies and is attached to the ABC Family drama project Famous In Love from Pretty Little Liars exec producer/showrunner I. Marlene King.

She’ll next appear on television on MTV’s new series Scream.