The forthcoming young adult movie Kissing Is the Easy Part has landed a director and is adding to its cast.
Paris Berelc (Alexa & Katie) and Jennifer Robertson (Ginny & Georgia) will co-star in the Tubi romantic-comedy feature for filmmaker Fawzia Mirza, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Asher Angel (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) was previously announced as the lead for the film adapting author Christine Duann’s Wattpad webnovel that debuted in 2015. Its story centers on an overachieving student who agrees to tutor a wild child in exchange for a coveted college recommendation letter.
Berelc will executive produce Kissing Is the Easy Part and play the effortlessly cool Flora, who does not appreciate the academic path her parents envision for her. When Flora forms a connection with her tutor, Sean (Angel), she suddenly reevaluates her feelings on love and her own potential.
“I’ve always wanted to make a classic high school romcom, so it’s a dream to be directing Kissing Is the Easy Part with Asher, Paris and our amazing cast and crew,” Mirza says. “Now more than ever, we need films that center joy, love and possibility, and I can’t wait for audiences to fall in love with Kissing and be reminded of the power of the romcom.”
Paris Berelc (left), Jennifer Robertson and Fawzia Mirza
Ivan Apfel/Getty Images; River Callaway/Variety/Getty Images; Manoli Figetakis/Getty Images
Adds Tubi chief content officer Adam Lewinson, “We are delighted to welcome Paris, Jennifer and this talented ensemble cast as they join Asher in breathing life into these charming and dynamic characters. With Fawzia’s unique vision guiding the narrative, this heartfelt love story promises to connect deeply with young audiences, and fits in perfectly with our young adult slate of original movies.”
Kissing Is the Easy Part was announced earlier this year at Tubi’s upfront presentation as part of its roster of YA titles. Tom Keat (Fear Street: Prom Queen), Hayley Festeryga (This Time), Roshahn Dhoré (Adults), Mark Ballantyne (The Way Home), Rosalie Turmel (Cirkus) and Sorika Wolf (Fargo).
Producers include David Madden for Webtoon Productions, alongside Jason Goldberg and Wattpad president Aron Levitz. Executive producing are Lance Samuels, Daniel Iron and Samantha Levine for Blue Ice Pictures, in addition to Berelc, Angel, Mirza and Rebecca Webb.
