19 Mar THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘Best Summer Ever’ Musical Lands at Freestyle Digital Media (Exclusive)
By Etan Vlessing
Peter Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli’s inclusive feature that debuted at SXSW.
Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli’s inclusive musical romancer Best Summer Ever after a SXSW festival premiere.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities.
“Freestyle Digital Media is proud to be a part of the North American release of Best Summer Ever. This innovative, free-spirited take on the teen musical genre is great viewing for audiences of all ages,” Freestyle’s vp of operations and sales Bill Vergos said in a statement.
The film portrays Anthony, a high school football player, shocked to discover that a new young woman in school, Sage, is the same young woman he fell in love with at a summer dance camp. Now they must reevaluate their relationship as Anthony struggles to be both the high school football star and dancer he’s always wanted to be.
The film’s ensemble cast includes Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “AJ” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer. Freestyle plans to release Best Summer Ever on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms and DVD on April 27, 2021.
Randa and Smitelli co-wrote Best Summer Ever with Will Halby, Terra Mackintosh and Andrew Pilkington. Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard also serve as executive producers along with Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Jamie Lee Curtis and Amy Brenneman.
The film is produced by Pilkington, Mackintosh, Leah Romond, Jake Sharpless, and Katie White. Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the distribution deal with Pilkington and Will Halby of Zeno Mountain Farm.