What If? (film)

What If? is an upcoming American coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Billy Porter and written by Alvaro García Lecuona. It is the first to be produced by Orion Pictures since Wish Upon (2017), and the first after the studio relaunched to shift focus to films made by filmmakers of underrepresented groups.

What If?
Directed byBilly Porter
Written byAlvaro García Lecuona
Produced by
Starring
Production
companies
Distributed byUnited Artists Releasing
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Cast

Production

Development

In November 2020, it was revealed that actor Billy Porter would be making his feature directorial debut with What If?, from a screenplay by Alvaro García Lecuona. The film would mark the start of MGM's relaunch of Orion Pictures and deal with Killer Films. The premise has been compared to the likes of Love, Simon and Booksmart. Porter had been approached by the producers to direct. He agreed to sign on 30 pages into the script upon realizing the film would be set in his hometown of Pittsburgh.[1]

It is produced by Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa of Killer Films and Andrew Lauren and D.J. Gugenheim of Andrew Lauren Productions.[2]

Casting

It was announced in April 2021 that Yasmin Finney would star as Kelsa.[3] Porter stated he hoped to "populate" the cast with a lot of "true, authentic Pittsburgh people".[4] In July 2021, Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Courtnee Carter, Kelly Lamor Wilson and Grant Reynolds joined the cast of the film, with Reign replacing Finney due to being unable to secure a visa.[5]

Filming

Principal photography began in July 2021, on location in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas of Western Pennsylvania.[6][1][5][7]

References
  1. Axelrod, Joshua (April 30, 2021). "How Billy Porter's journey led to 'Pose' and 'What If,' his directorial debut in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  2. D'Alessandro, Anthony; Hipes, Patrick (November 18, 2020). "Billy Porter To Direct High School Coming-Of Age Pic 'What If?' In First Movie From Relaunched Orion Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  3. N'Duka, Amanda (April 12, 2021). "Newcomer Yasmin Finney To Star In Billy Porter's Directorial Debut Feature 'What If?' From Orion Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  4. Owen, Rob (April 30, 2021). "TV Talk: Billy Porter plans to cast 'authentic Pittsburgh people' in his directorial debut". TribLive. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 19, 2021). "Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali and Renee Elise Goldsberry To Star In Billy Porter's 'What If? for Orion Pictures; Courtnee Carter, Kelly Lamor Wilson, and Grant Reynolds Also On Board". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  6. Axelrod, Joshua (April 28, 2021). "Billy Porter to set, shoot directorial debut film 'What If' in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  7. "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - What If?". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
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