Daisy Ridley and Alden Ehrenreich, known for their iconic roles in Star Wars, have been cast in the leading roles of the upcoming romantic comedy The Last Resort, directed by Donald Petrie. The film, set in the Philippines, is produced and financed by Asia Pacific Films, with CAA Media Finance overseeing worldwide distribution.
The script, penned by Karen McCullah, best known for Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You, centers on Brooke (Ridley), a determined woman who strives to prove herself capable of running her father’s expansive hotel empire. Her journey takes her to the Philippines, where she scouts a new resort location and crosses paths with Ben (Ehrenreich), a charming expatriate pilot. As the two explore the beauty of the Philippines, Brooke begins to experience a new sense of freedom, but as love and duty intertwine, she must decide whether to stay committed to her established life or embrace the one she’s only beginning to discover.
Donald Petrie, whose rom-com credits include Miss Congeniality and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, directs the film, which promises to deliver heartfelt humor and emotional depth. Petrie has also directed Gene Hackman’s final film, Welcome to Mooseport.
The Last Resort is produced by Ernesto (Bong) Sta. Maria Jr. (Rosario) and Raja Collins (True Memoirs of an International Assassin), with Simon Heo, Akshay Mehta, and Rick Dugdale serving as co-producers. Manuel V. Pangilinan is the executive producer.
Ridley, who recently attended the SXSW festival for the premiere of the zombie survival thriller We Bury the Dead, has garnered acclaim for her diverse roles. Last year, she impressed audiences with her portrayal of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel, in Young Woman and the Sea, and also starred in Magpie, a noir thriller she co-created. Ridley’s portrayal of Rey in Star Wars Episodes VII-IX remains a major highlight of her career, with the trilogy grossing a combined $4.4 billion worldwide. She is set to reprise her role as Rey in the upcoming Star Wars: New Jedi Order.
Ehrenreich, currently shooting Switzerland alongside Helen Mirren, recently wrapped his role in Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger. He will also appear in the Ironheart limited series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Last year, he starred in Cocaine Bear, which became a box office success, and Oppenheimer, which earned multiple Academy Awards and grossed nearly $1 billion globally. Ehrenreich’s film Fair Play, which debuted at Sundance, went on to top Netflix’s charts with over 12.6 million views in its first three days.
Ridley is represented by CAA, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern, and Narrative, while Ehrenreich is represented by CAA and Linden Entertainment. The film deal was negotiated by Glenn Feig of Reder & Feig LLP on behalf of the filmmakers.
Production on The Last Resort is set to begin in April.
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