The film, in which Zegler will play the daughter of Tomei’s ex-punk rocker birth mother, is being shopped by Embankment.
Newly crowned Disney princess Rachel Zegler has lined her first film after “Snow White” and is set to play the daughter of Marisa Tomei‘s wild-living mother in comedy drama “She Gets It From Me.”
The film is being being directed by Julia von Heinz (“Treasure” and Germany’s 2021 Oscar submission “And Tomorrow the Entire World”), with Embankment launching global pre-sales in Cannes.
Based on a true story, “She Gets It From Me” follows Nicky (Zegler), whose engagement celebration turns into a search for her pill-popping, ex-punk rocker birth mother, Charlotte (Tomei). Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.
As the synopsis reads: “YouTube is packed with tearful family reunions, but nobody films the messy aftermath.”
3311 Productions (“The Assistant,” “Brigsby Bear,” “Table 19”) produces in partnership with Anna Werner for Seven Elephants (“And Tomorrow the Entire World,” “Sun and Concrete,” “Treasure”) and Jay Reiss (Tony Award winning “The Twenty Fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “The Oranges”), who also wrote the script. Embankment Films handles international sales with CAA representing U.S. rights.
“The emotional truth of the movie, reflecting parts of all our lives, is truly funny, immersive cinema,” said von Heinz. “Jay’s screenplay captures family dynamics at their most authentic: absurd yet profound, messy yet meaningful. The collision of two worlds creates comedy that cuts deep because it’s so honest.”
Added producer Jen Dana from 3311: “Rachel always brings a brilliant depth and humanity to her roles, and we are so excited for her to continue to showcase her versatility and humor as an actress.”
Zegler has been on a steep trajectory since breaking out in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” adaptation (for which she won a Golden Globe), appearing in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” and, most recently, as the famed princess in the live-action “Snow White.” She was recently announced as leading “Evita” at the London Palladium.
The Oscar winning and three-time nominee Tomei, meanwhile, continues to mix both indie and studio work, known for portraying May Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside recent films including the Berlinale-bowing “She Came to Me” and Prime Video rom-com “Upgraded.”
“What could be more fun than finding out your birth mother is the wonderful Marisa Tomei!,” said Embankment’s Hugo Grumbar.
Zegler is repped by CAA. Tomei is repped by The Gersh Agency, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
