As Hollywood attempts to reboot itself in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, new scripts and ideas are making the rounds behind closed doors and computer screens. One such package involves a reteaming of JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL stars Karen Gillan and Awkwafina, who are now attached to SHELLY, an action-comedy script by Michael Doneger and Liz Storm that has Jude Weng (FINDING OHANA) in the director's chair.
According to Deadline, the story takes place a decade after an embarrassing prom prank ran Shelly Wheeler (Awkwafina) out of town and so hardened her heart that she became an ice-cold hit-woman. Revenge threatens to be sweet when she learns her next target is her former high school tormentor, Dianna Park (Gillan). But when Dianna unexpectedly befriends Shelly, the assassin finds herself in with the cool crowd, protecting her old nemesis against another hit crew hired to kill them both. The tone is Mean Girls meets Barry.
Over the past several years, both GIllan and Awkwafina have delivered standout performances for any number of projects. While Gillan's most celebrated claim to fame is starring as Nebula for Marvel's Cinematic Universe, she's also owned her role as Ruby Roundhouse for Sony's rebooted Jumanji franchise. Oh, and don't even get me started about her turn as Amy Pond for the BBC's DOCTOR WHO. My heart still skips a beat every time I think of that character. As for Awkwafina, the CRAZY RICH ASIANS and OCEAN'S 8 actress recently brought the house down while leading Lulu Wang's indie darling THE FAREWELL. Both women have stars that are clearly on the rise, and the thought of them joining forces for a hit-woman comedy has this movie lover very interested.
As for Jude Weng, the savvy filmmaker has directed episodes of such series as The Good Place, Young Sheldon, iZombie, Fresh Off the Boat and Black-ish. Meanwhile, her feature film FINDING OHANA is currently in post-production, which tells the tale of two Brooklyn siblings (Kea Peahu and Alex Aiono) whose summer in a rural Oahu town takes an exciting turn when a journal pointing to long-lost treasure sets them on an adventure, leading them to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage.
We'll be sure to bring you more news about Weng's SHELLY as the project develops. Meanwhile, why not give JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL another watch, and witness both Gillan and Awkwafina in action.
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