The Conjuring 2actressLauren Espositowill star opposite world-renowned ballet dancerJuliet Dohertyin the coming-of-age dramaThe Red Shoes: Next Step, which recently started shooting in Sydney, Australia.
Joanne Samuel, who playedMel Gibson’s wife in the originalMad Maxmovie, is co-directing the family film withJesse A’hern, who is also producing alongsideTanya Esposito. The script hails fromZachary Layner,John BanasandPeter McLeod, andDaniel Gaudiellowill serve as the choreographer for the teen dance movie.
The Red Shoes: Next Stepstars Doherty as Sam Cavanaugh, a brilliant dancer who gives up her dream and quits the Academy after her sister is killed in a tragic car accident for which she feels responsible. Sam returns to high school, where she and her rebellious best friend Eve (Esposito) quickly get into trouble – the kind that forces Sam to perform community service cleaning the halls back at the Academy, where she’s constantly reminded of the tragedy. When the Academy’s lead dancer is injured, Sam finds herself pressed back into action to dance with her old friend and longtime crush Ben, but in order to reignite her passion for dance, she’ll need to confront her own fear and grief.
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The supporting cast of the film includes professional ballet dancersJoel BurkeandPrimrose Kern, as well asCarolyn Bock(Neighbours),Meitta White(Conspiracy 365),Ashleigh Ross(Dance Academy) andNicholas Andrianankos(The Legend of the Five).
The filmmakers aim to show the challenges, stress and pain that come with ballet as well as the freedom, love and acceptance that dance offers. It’s also a story about female friendship that comes at a time when studios and streamers aren’t making many dance movies aimed at younger audiences.
The Red Shoes: Next Stephails from the team behindThe Legend of the Five, which Esposito starred in and co-produced, just as she’ll serve as a co-producer on this new movie. She playedFrances O’Connor’s daughter inJames Wan’s hit sequelThe Conjuring 2, and she was also a series regular on the acclaimed Australian seriesLove Child. Esposito is represented byKimberly Kottwitzat Brave Artists Management, CESD Talent Agency and Gilchrist Management.
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