"Northern Soul" actor Josh Whitehouse is set to star in MGM's musical remake of "Valley Girl" opposite "La La Land" actress Jessica Rothe. "Mary Poppins Quits" director Rachel Lee Goldenberg is being helmed on it.
According to Deadline, Whitehouse will play as badass punk rock musician and leader of the band the Propheteers in "Valley Girl." He falls in love to a squeaky-clean upscale girl named Julie (Rothe) from the San Fernando Valley.
"Looking Glass" actor Nicolas Cage played the role in the 1982 film "Valley Girl" directed by "Cult" helmer Martha Coolidge. He starred opposite "Beautiful Loser" actress Deborah Foreman, Variety reported. The original film cost only $350,000 to produce and became a solid performer at the box office with $17 million.
Coolidge-directed "Valley Girl" was released in the wake of the success of Frank Zappa's song of the same name, wherein his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit Zappa mocked the unique speech patterns of teenage girls from the Valley. The film's soundtrack featured songs from the Plimsouls, Josie Cotton, Bonnie Hayes, Modern English, and the Payolas.
Rothe was tapped for the lead of the remake of "Valley Girl" in November 2016. She recently wrapped production in the romantic feature "Forever My Girl" starring opposite "The 5th Wave" actor Alex Roe. She also stars in Damien Chazelle's musical comedy "La La Land."
Whitehouse also starred in the BAFTA-nominated "Northern Soul" and is featured in filmmaker Steve McQueen's "Mr. Burberry" ad campaign. He is currently starring in the BBC series "Poldark." He is repped by CAA, United Agents, and Untitled Entertainment.
The upcoming remake of "Valley Girl" is slated to begin filming this year in Los Angeles. It will be produced by "Doctor Who" actor Matt Smith with Cassidy Lange on board to oversee for MGM. The script is written by "Brave New Girl" screenwriter Amy Talkington with revisions by "Fright Night" writer Marti Noxon.
Watch the video about Josh Whitehouse interview in the Kane FM studio:
