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One 80s icon is getting a helping hand from another.  Just as Jem was ‘Truly Outrageous’, Molly Ringwald was ‘Pretty In Pink’!  And now the former teen star is stepping back in front of the camera with an undisclosed role in the live-action adaptation of ‘Jem & The Holograms‘.  This comes hot on the heels of the news that acclaimed actress Juliette Lewis was also cast in an undisclosed role.

Ringwald is, of course, known for her string of hit movies in the 80s, most famously ‘Sixteen Candles’, ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Pretty In Pink’.  (Of course fans love to point out that she was also a series regular on the first season of ‘The Facts of Life’.)  But after a string of flops and notoriously turning down the lead roles in ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Ghost’, she withdrew from the spotlight and moved to France, where she eventually got married and became a mother herself.  She did return to the US to appear in various TV and movie roles, including a self-effacing appearance in the teen movie skewering ‘Not Another Teen Movie’.  Most recently, she had a regular role on the ABC Family series ‘The Secret Life of an American Teenager’.

Like Lewis, Ringwald’s role is unrevealed currently.  But taking both castings together, Lewis definitely has an edgier style and Ringwald retains a certain comforting sweetness.  This makes me think that Lewis is definitely most likely playing Pizzazz, the vindictive leader of The Misfits, Jem’s rival band and that Ringwald is more likely to be playing Jacqui Benton/Synergy. Jacqui was the mother of Jerrica and Kimber Benton, who died in a plane crash when the girls were young teens.

Like Lewis, who fronted the hard rock band Juliette & The Licks, Ringwald has explored a singing career, releasing a jazz record in 2013, including a cover of Simple Minds’ hit ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ the theme song to her classic movie ‘The Breakfast Club’.  Lewis’ hard rock background makes her a much more logical fit for the role of Pizzazz, while Ringwald’s laid back style better fits Jacqui.

But there are other possibilities including original characters created especially for the movie.  More news as it develops!

Take a peak at Molly singing ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ and discussing her record.  Do you think she could fairly serve the character of Jacqui Benton?  Or is she better suited for another character from the world of Jem?

‘Jem & The Holograms’ is being directed by Jon. M Chu (‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation,’ Step Up 2”), and stars Aubrey Peeples as Jem/Jerrica, Stefanie Scott as Kimber, Aurora Perrineau as Shana, Hayley Kiyoko as Aja and Ryan Guzman as Rio.  Chu, Jason Blum, Scooter Braun, Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis, Bennett Schneir are producing.

Source: THR