Turtles All the Way Down is an upcoming American romantic drama film based on the 2017 novel of the same name by John Green. The film is directed by Hannah Marks from a screenplay by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, and stars Isabela Merced. The story centers on a 16-year-old with obsessive–compulsive disorder (Merced) who pursues the disappearance of a billionaire.
The film was first announced as being in development at Fox 2000 Pictures, who previously produced Green's film adaptations The Fault in Our Stars (2014) and Paper Towns (2015), in December 2017, with Berger and Aptaker announced as screenwriters and Marks set to direct it in January 2019. After The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox, the parent company of Fox 2000 Pictures, Disney closed Fox 2000 and put the project into turnaround, until it was eventually acquired by New Line Cinema. Merced, who had starred in another adaptation of Green's work, Let It Snow (2019), was announced in February 2022. Principal photography began in April of the same year in Cincinnati and ended in June.
Turtles All the Way Down was announced to be released on the streaming service HBO Max.
Premise
When a 16-year-old struggling with obsessive–compulsive disorder reconnects with her childhood crush, she confronts the possibility of finding love and happiness in the face of mental illness.
Cast
Isabela Merced as Aza Holmes
Cree Cicchino as Daisy Ramirez
Felix Mallard as Davis Pickett
Judy Reyes as Gina Holmes
Maliq Johnson as Mychal Turner
J. Smith-Cameron as Professor Abbott
Poorna Jagannathan as Dr. Singh
Hannah Marks as Holly
Production
The film was optioned by Fox 2000 Pictures upon the publication of the novel in 2017, with Green and Rosianna Halse Rojas as executive producers. Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger were announced as screenwriters in May 2018, and Hannah Marks was announced as director in January 2019.
However, production was delayed after Disney acquired Fox 2000 Pictures. The project was picked up by New Line Cinema, with distribution rights passing to HBO Max. The film is produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and Isaac Klausner of Temple Hill Entertainment, the production company which produced screen adaptations of Green's previous novels The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and Looking for Alaska.
The film was announced in March 2022, with Merced in the lead role. Reyes, Cicchino, and Mallard were announced as part of the cast the following month. In May 2022 it was announced that J. Smith-Cameron, Poorna Jagannathan, and Maliq Johnson would also appear in the film.
Principal photography began in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 26, 2022.
References
External links
Upcoming films
American romantic drama films
American teen drama films
American teen romance films
Films about obsessive–compulsive disorder
Films based on American novels
Films based on works by John Green (author) Films based on young adult literature Films directed by Hannah Marks Films produced by Wyck Godfrey Films shot in Cincinnati HBO Max films New Line Cinema films Temple Hill Entertainment films Upcoming English-language films