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2 weeks ago
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EXCLUSIVE: Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education), Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish), Keith Powers (Uglies), and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) are in talks to star in Bloom, a coming-of-age romance marking the feature debut of Cole Swanson, who will direct from his own script.
The film is set against the enchanting backdrop of Tuscany, where a young and gifted Black artist named Ace (Williams-Stirling) embarks on a profound journey of self-discovery after moving to Italy on a scholarship for university. In his time there, he forges unexpected friendships and ignites a passionate romance, all within the captivating orbit of a defiant and opulent circle of wealthy young Black adults deemed “The Casa Rosa Kids.”
The film has been described as Love Jones in Italy, featuring super rich Black kids navigating a steamy love triangle. Dane Clarke II and Joel Poku’s Pineloft Entertainment developed it and will produce alongside Jolene Rodriguez of Broken English Productions. The UK-based 1PLUS1 Productions, founded by musical artist Skepta, and Adam Strawford have come onboard for music consulting.
Best known for starring on Netflix’s Sex Education, Williams-Stirling has also held roles in Steve McQueen’s anthology Small Axe, Roots, British teen drama Wolfblood and more.
Shahidi recently wrapped a six-season run as the lead of Grown-ish, Freeform’s teen dramedy which had her reprising her role as Zoey Johnson from ABC’s Black-ish. She led the rom-com Sitting in Bars with Cake for Amazon and has also been seen in titles like Peter Pan & Wendy and The Sun Is Also a Star.
Currently starring on MGM+ drama Emperor of Ocean Park, Powers also stars opposite Joey King in McG’s recent sci-fi drama Uglies for Netflix, based on the novel by Scott Westerfeld. Other credits include Netflix’s What/If starring Renée Zellweger, as well as films The Tomorrow War, Before I Fall, and Straight Outta Compton.
Receiving a Tony, a Grammy and many more accolades for her work in Hamilton, Goldsberry currently stars in the girl group comedy Girls5eva, which moved from Peacock to Netflix for its third season earlier this year.
Most recently, Swanson collaborated with the Pineloft Entertainment duo on the jazz film, Betty & Blue, starring Keith David, which screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival this past summer.
Williams-Stirling is represented by Canopy Media Partners, 42, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Shahidi by CAA and The Nord Grou; Powers by Gersh, Megan Silverman Management, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Goldsberry by UTA and Untitled Management; Swanson by 3 Arts Entertainment; and Pineloft Entertainment by Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
