Jon Chu, the director of G.I. Joe: Retaliation has decided to bring Jem and the Holograms, based on another 80’s cartoon, to the big screen. Earlier today the Hollywood Reporter revealed that Aubrey Peeples will star as Jem supported by Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau, and Hayley Kiyoko, all with backgrounds as television actresses, as Kimber, Aja, and Shana respectively.
The cartoon series followed the fictional music company owner Jerrica Benton who led a double life as the rock star Jem. Her band, Jem and the Holograms, also included her younger sister Kimber and their childhood friends Aja and Shana. Most episodes revolved around the girls attempting to keep their civilian identities a secret while taking care of the “Starlight Girls” a group of foster children living with the Holograms.
Chu should feel right at home directing what will likely be a music-heavy film, prior to Retaliation he directed Step Up 2 & 3 and two concert films for pop music star Justin Bieber. Jason Blum and Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun will produce along with Chu. Ryan Landels wrote the script. In their initial announcement for the project, the producers stated they wish to re-imagine Jem and company “for whole new generation with themes of being true to who you are in a multitasking, hyperlinked social media age.” Like many 80’s cartoon and toy lines, Jem still has her fans even after all these years. But while, for example, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles still remains the go to franchise for shell-kicking action, one has to wonder if the generation that grew up with Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus will still find Jem “truly, truly, truly outrageous.”
Leave a Comment