James R | On 02, Feb 2021

Netflix is bringing the Blacklist script Mixtape to the screen.

Valerie Weiss (Outer Banks, The Archer) will direct the project based on the script by Stacey Menear (The Boy) with revisions by Alice Wu (The Half of It).

It will star Gemma Brooke Allen (Kate, Black Pumpkin), Olga Petsa, Audrey Hsieh (Here, Today), Diego Mercado, Nick Thune (The Right One) Jackson Rathbone (The Twilight Saga) and Julie Bowen (Modern Family, Hubie Halloween).

On the eve of Y2k, orphaned, awkward 12-year-old Beverly Moody (Gemma Brooke Allen) discovers a broken mixtape crafted by her teen parents. Raised by her grandmother Gail (Julie Bowen), a former teen mom herself who finds it painful to speak about her late daughter, Beverly sees this mixtape as a chance to finally learn more about her parents. So she sets out on a journey to find all the songs on the tape. Along the way, she makes friends with her quirky neighbor, Ellen (Audrey Hsieh); intimidatingly tough, Nicky (Olga Petsa); and Anti, an anti-everything record store owner who’s the key to finding these tracks, and a renewed bond between Gail and Beverly.

The producers are Gil Netter (Just Mercy, Life of Pi, The Blind Side), Jim Wedaa (The Boy), with Jennie Lee (Flora & Ulysses, Just Mercy) and Chris Foss on board as executive producers.

Valerie Weiss says: “As a mother of two girls at the precipice of child and adulthood, I felt compelled to direct this story of a 12-year old girl trying to find her identity through music, friendship and connection with her young grandmother who is raising her. I knew it was a chance to make a timeless film showcasing the world the way I want my own two daughters and their friends to see it. One that reflects the values they need to make it a better place while celebrating kick-ass music, cool 90’s nostalgia, while forging their own identities. A movie that teaches them that nothing is irreparably lost if we can find the courage to connect again.”

Mixtape joins Netflix’s growing slate of live action family films featuring kids and teens, which includes Feel the Beat, directed by Elissa Down (The Honor List) and starring Sofia Carson; WWE’s The Main Event, directed by Jay Karas (Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife) and starring Seth Carr; and 2019 comedy Tall Girl, directed by Nzingha Stewart (Little Fires Everywhere) and starring Ava Michelle.

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