It’s no surprise when the creators of big budget tent pole movies keep an air of secrecy around their projects, swearing actors and crew to secrecy and locking down certain shooting sights.  But this isn’t as frequently the case with lower budget, smaller films… unless apparently they’re based on beloved 80s toy franchises.  Almost NOTHING about ‘Jem & The Holograms’ directed by John M. Chu is known to the public… not even if certain major characters like The Misfits are even in it!

What little we know can be read in the film’s official synopsis:

As a small-town girl catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a one-in-a-million journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden. In Universal Pictures’ JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS, four aspiring musicians will take the world by storm when they see that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice.

Directed by Jon M. Chu (Step Up series, G.I. Joe: Retaliation), the musical adventure stars Aubrey Peeples, Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Hayley Kiyoko, Ryan Guzman, Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis. JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS, based on the iconic Hasbro animated TV series, is written by Ryan Landels and produced by Chu, Jason Blum for Blumhouse Productions, Scooter Braun for SB Projects, Bennett Schneir, and Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis of Hasbro Studios.

If you were worried that the movie would tone down the glittery flash of the original cartoon and toy line, the first photo from the film should comfort you somewhat:

Pictured are Haley Kiyoko as Aja, Aubrey Peeples as Jem and Stafanie Scott as Kimber (playing a keytar, like the doll carried, but unlike the cartoon version) all rocking glittery, vibrant outfits, outrageous makeup and hair streaked the same colors as the originals.  (I say streaked because it doesn’t look as solid as the originals.)  Also of note, Jem is playing a guitar, whereas the original version never played an instrument (other than her voice).  Shana is not pictured, as she is presumably in the background playing drums.

Jem fans may be a bit wary, since this movie doesn’t have a massive budget, but director John M. Chu has directed splashy dance movies ‘Step Up 2 The Streets’ and ‘Step Up 3D’ and concert movies/documentaries ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ and ‘Justin Bieber: Believe’ (calm down, the Biebs doesn’t appear in ‘Jem’!) as well as ‘GI Joe Retaliation’ also based on an 80s Hasbro toy line, although a more action-oriented one.  It was also much better received than the previous ‘GI Joe’ movie, which Chu did not direct.  His experience working on both musical and action movies could be the perfect balance for guiding the exploits of the Truly Outrageous quartet.

I guess we’ll all see how this plays out on October 23rd when the film materializes in theaters.

Are you ready for Showtime (Synergy)?

Source: IndieWire