Back in 2018, Disney had acquired the rights to The New York Times‘ bestselling author YA novel, 29 Dates from author Melissa de la Cruz.
Now, we have learned that Richard Wong, who directed the critically acclaimed indie hit Come As You Are is set to direct the film for Disney’s streaming service Disney+. Writer Lauren Moon (Atypical) has also boarded the project.
Lee Stollman and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein (The Maze Runner trilogy) will produce with The Gotham Group, the production company also worked on the soon to be released Stargirl for Disney+.
READ: Exclusive: Disney Is Developing ‘Tom Sawyer’ Film For Disney+
29 Dates centers on a Korean exchange student who moves to the United States. Sixteen-year-old Jisu Kim struggles against the academic pressure exerted by her ambitious parents, who also set her up on a number of seon (matchmaker) dates to meet appropriate young men from Seoul to San Francisco. The book has been lauded for its depiction of characters from a range of ethnicities as well as its accurate cultural details of Korean life, along with its surprise romantic ending.
Production on the film is expected to begin this June. The Studio is aiming for a Spring 2021 release on the streamer. Casting on the project is underway.
De la Cruz has written over forty novels, which include The Descendants, Blue Bloods, Witches of East End and the Alex and Eliza trilogy.
29 Dates Novel
The Animation Commendation
February 8, 2020 at 3:05 am
I’m always down to see matchmaking-based romance films! Definitely interested!