It feels like just weeks ago a Jem and the Holograms movie was announced (oh, wait…it was just weeks ago.) Despite taking audition videos from all over, including one particularly good one that actually used songs from the cartoon, the producers went with (somewhat) known actors for the parts after all. In what will be her first major movie role,  Nashville actress Aubrey Peeples has been cast as Jem a/k/a Jerrica Benton. The Holograms have also been cast: Stefanie Scott, (A.N.T. Farm) will play Jem’s sister, Kimber; Aurora Perrineau (Pretty Little Liars) will play Shana; and The Fosters‘ Hayley Kiyoko has been cast as Aja. No word yet on who will play Jem’s purple haired boyfriend Rio or Jem’s rival band The Misfits.
Jem will be produced by horror guru Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions with Scooter Braun Productions and directed by G.I. Joe Retaliation’s John M. Chu. This movie was announced on March 20th and is already shooting, even without a complete cast. It’s nice to know that Hasbro is putting the same time and money into producing this movie as they do with their movies centered around their toys aimed at boys from the same time period, like G.I. Joe and Transformers. It’s also nice to see so many female names are behind the scenes on this movie, which was based on a property aimed mostly at young girls. (Note: the last two sentences were sarcasm.)
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the script is said to revolve around “an orphaned teenage girl who becomes an online recording sensation. She and her sisters embark on a music-driven scavenger hunt — one that sends them on an adventure across Los Angeles in an attempt to unlock a final message left by her father.” I imagine the final message is going to be the artificial intelligence known as Synergy. If the producers cast RuPaul as Synergy, by the way, I will take back every snarky thing I’ve said in this article.
The movie already has a teaser poster, revealed on the official Jem Tumblr page. No release date has been given yet, but at this rate it’ll probably be hitting theaters this summer.
I have a feeling the creators are going to ruin my childhood.
this entire thing hinges on the most important casting element: synergy!!! that’s where the real magic is at.
also, we need all those cheesy jem songs from the 80s…but we need even more the misfits songs: “we are the misfits, our songs are better, we are the misfits, we’re gonna get ‘er.” GOLD!!!
This movie will be nothing like the cartoon which is disappointing to say the least. It is a shame they are not taking anything but the pink hair from the cartoon. The cartoon actually has an amazing story with possibility for movie special effects, action, drama, and fantastic music. The people making the movie are merely using Jem to market their Justin Beiber inspired idea of a girl becoming a Youtube sensation while she goes on a scavenger hunt for her fathers last message to her. All of the Jem fans will be very disappointed with this movie. Much like the Bewitched fans were with the flop movie Bewitched.
They should cast Jay Hernandez as Rio. He’d be perfect
PIzzazz….they had better make it epic. Not looking forward to a bunch of children I’ve never heard of playing the Holograms. http://i.imgur.com/R0U8ooJ.jpg
I loved Jem as a kid, but the only way this movie will be remotely interesting is if the Misfits are all played by drag queens.
Needs more Raya – http://oi58.tinypic.com/zwyyw2.jpg
all I can think of is “mother fucking next time on mother fucking Jizz”
worst casting ever, how very disney of them.
Someone needs to call the producers out on their phoney failed “viral” campaign to cast this film. What a crock.
I just hope the music is exactly the same as the show..all synthesizer music even though the band is shown with guitars and drums.
JoshPossible-As a kid, Jem is how I discovered punk music- I confused the cartoon Misfits with the living band. I would LOVE for the actual, original Misfits to do this (in their 30 years ago bodies too…)
Agreed. It had BETTER be truly outrageous, and also, I am completely supportive of the RuPaul casting suggestion! Excellent call.
They better do right by this and make it truly outrageous or else we will riot.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m almost 14 and I’ve seen the ’80’s show, Jem. I’m gonna be pissed if this turns up a flop and not a success.
I know it’s lame and a very predictable joke for one to make, but it would crack my shit up if they got the actual Misfits to be the movie misfits. Three or four over the hill men doing all they can to stop teen girls from making their gig? Come on!!!!
am i the only one not looking forward to this?
It’ll be just as good as the Josie & the Pussy Cats movie. lol.
Who’s gonna be Synergy?
What about pink haired Raya? She was my favorite.
Word. Exactly what Tiny Angry Horse said. My heart will break if they do this wrong and then I will be forced to break faces in return.
I’m gonna be one pissed little horse if this movie isn’t made and it turns out to be either a) a joke or b)lol funding issues
Also there better be some cheesy 80s tunes or else I’m beatin some lil man bitches.