CBS Films announced today the cast for the theatrical motion picture adaptation of James Patterson’s award-winning, bestselling series “Middle School,” arriving in theaters October 2016.
The cast will include Lauren Graham (“Parenthood,” “Gilmore Girls”), Rob Riggle (“22 Jump Street,” “Hotel Transylvania 2”), Thomas Barbusca (“Preacher,” “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp”), Andrew Daly (“Review,” “Black-ish”), Adam Pally (“The Mindy Project,” “The To Do List”), Efren Ramirez (“Constantine,” “Napoleon Dynamite”), Isabela Moner (“100 Things to Do Before High School,” “Dora and Friends: Into the City!”) and Alexa Nisenson (“Constantine”) are joining Griffin Gluck (“About a Boy,” “Red Band Society”).
Steve Carr is set to direct the film from a screenplay by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer and Kara Holden. Leopoldo Gout and Bill Robinson are producing and James Patterson and Steve Bowen are executive producing for James Patterson Entertainment. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King of Participant Media are also serving as executive producers along with Michael Flynn.
The first entry in the series, “Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life,” chronicles the trials and triumphs of Rafe Khatchadorian (Griffin Gluck) as he uses all of his wits to battle bullies, hormones and the tyrannical, test-obsessed Principal Dwight (Daly). Graham co-stars as Rafe’s mother Jules, along with Riggle as her boyfriend Bear, Nisenson as Rafe’s sister Georgia, Barbusca as Rafe’s best friend Leo, Moner as Rafe’s first crush Jeanne, Ramirez as Gus and Pally as his favorite teacher, Mr. Teller.
James Patterson is one of the most successful authors of all time, with more than 300 million books sold, ranging from ‘Alex Cross’ to ‘Zoo,’ the basis for the hit CBS series. To date, the six-book ‘Middle School’ series has sold nearly seven million copies worldwide and ranked on The New York Times bestsellers list for a combined 68 weeks, including seven weeks at #1. The series has received countless awards and accolades including recognition from the Children’s Choice Book Awards, National Parenting Publication Honors and Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
“Over the years, I have had the privilege to meet countless ‘Middle School’ fans, and I know that today they are just as excited as I am by this incredible cast,” said Patterson. “Speaking for everyone involved in this project, we are going to give those fans the movie that they deserve.”
In addition to producing, James Patterson will co-finance the film with Participant Media and CBS Films. Robert Kessel is overseeing the title for Participant. Scott Shooman is overseeing the project for CBS Films.
“Middle School” begins production in Atlanta later this month and will be distributed in partnership with Lionsgate on Oct. 7th, 2016.
