Hulu Announces Cast Lineup for Coming-of-Age Comedy Film “Prom Dates” Coming This Spring

Julia Lester and Antonia Gentry have joined the cast of PROM DATES in lead roles while Kenny Ridwan, JT Neal, Jordan Buhat, Zión Moreno, Terry Hu, John Michael Higgins, and Chelsea Handler join in supporting roles.

 

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“Prom Dates” follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact. But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.

“Prom Dates” is directed by Kim O. Nguyen (“The Other Two,” “Never Have I Ever”) and written by D.J. Mausner (“Baroness Von Sketch Show”). Producers include Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps and Molle DeBartolo for American High; Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley and Luke Kelly-Clyne for Hartbeat; and Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon for LD Entertainment. Executive producers are Kevin Healey and Thai Randolph for Hartbeat, Michael Glassman for LD Entertainment, and D.J. Mausner and Andrew Reyes. Jason Zaro will serve as co-producer for Hulu and Axelle Azoulay as associate producer.

American High’s collaboration with Hulu Originals has resulted in seven original films and one acquisition, which launched to critical and consumer acclaim, including hit films such as Pete Davidson’s lead debut, “Big Time Adolescence,” Natalie Morales’ “Plan B” and the company’s first-ever sequel, “It’s a Wonderful Binge” – directed by “The Binge” scribe, Jordan VanDina, in his feature directorial debut. “Prom Dates” marks the eighth film under the original first-look slate deal with American High for Hulu. The company’s catalog includes “I Love My Dad,” “Banana Split,” and “Mark, Mary & Some Other People,” all of which are available to stream on Hulu.

CAST

Julia Lester “Hannah”

Bio/credits: Tony Award Nominee for Broadway’s INTO THE WOODS, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES (Disney +)

Rep line: Paradigm, Perennial Entertainment, Ziffren Brittenham LLP
Character name: Hannah

Character description: An anxious closeted lesbian who navigates her new queerness while her best friendship with Jess unravels.

Role: Lead

Antonia Gentry “Jess”

Bio/credits: Antonia Gentry stars as the titular character, “Ginny,” in the Netflix hit original series, GINNY & GEORGIA. Not only did the series top the Netflix charts, but it also debuted to a record viewership of 52 million subscribers. GINNY & GEORGIA is one of Netflix’s international powerhouse series. Gentry earned an MTV Movie & TV Award nomination in the category of “Best Breakthrough Performance” for her role. Gentry was also honored as a member of Variety’s 2021 “Power of Young Hollywood Impact List.” In addition to Ginny & Georgia, she will also soon be seen in the upcoming TIME CUT opposite Madison Bailey. The film was directed by Hannah Macphereson and produced by Matt Kaplan’s Ace Entertainment. Previous credits include a supporting role in the Netflix film CANDY JAR and a guest starring role in an episode of Netflix’s RAISING DION. Gentry is a graduate of Emory University, where she majored in English and Creative Writing. She was also a member of the Rathskellar Comedy Improv Group.

Rep line: Industry Entertainment, HJTH
Character name: Jess

Character description: A high school senior a little too interested in what others think of her, who would rather drop dead than go to prom alone- and puts her longtime best friendship with Hannah in jeopardy because of it.

Role: Lead

Kenny Ridwan “Greg”

Bio/credits: Kenny Ridwan is an American actor born in Seattle but raised in Los Angeles from the age of 11. He studied comedy under Scott Sedita and Stanislavsky under Marnie Cooper, subsequently landing roles on multiple primetime television shows. After completing his undergraduate B.A. at Columbia University while simultaneously filming The Goldbergs, he is now studying under Matt Newton at MN Acting Studios in New York City and Tom Draper in Los Angeles.

Rep line: Domina Holbeck, Sloane Fitzgerald, Gregg Edwards Management
Character name: Greg

Character description: Hannah’s intensely loving boyfriend and an enthusiastic student council president.

Role: Supporting

JT Neal “Jacob”

Bio/Credits: BLESS THIS MESS, PIVOTING, LIFE IN A YEAR

Rep Line: Innovative Artists, Holly Shelton Management
Character name: Jacob

Character description: Hannah’s sweet older brother with eyes for Jess.

Role: Supporting

Jordan Buhat “Luca”

Bio/credits: Jordan Buhat is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as “Vivek” in the Freeform series GROWN-ISH. His other credits include a lead role in the horror-thriller feature MARGAUX from director Steven C. Miller, and the horror indie feature SUMMER OF 84, which premiered at Sundance. Jordan has also appeared in the Hallmark’s YOUNG AURORA TEAGARDEN MYSTERIES movie series, the hit Canadian series LETTERKENNY, and toured with Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s production of TWELFTH NIGHT.

Rep line: Play Management, Buchwald & Jackoway Austen
Character name: Luca

Character Description: Jess’s asshole jock boyfriend.

Role: Supporting

Zión Moreno “Heather”

Bio: Zión Moreno is a spectacular actress best known for her series regular role in the HBO Max relaunch of the popular show GOSSIP GIRL. She can also be seen recurring in the critically acclaimed TNT series CLAWS, and as a series regular in the LatAm Netflix series CONTROL Z. Zión had her feature debut in the Melanie Martinez film K-12.

Credits: GOSSIP GIRL and CONTROL Z

Rep line: Gersh, Vision Ent., Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer
Character name: Heather

Character description: A college party girl who grabs life by the horns.

Role: Supporting

Terry Hu “Angie”

Bio/Credits: ZOMBIES 3, NEVER HAVE I EVER, GIRLS ON THE BUS

Rep Line: Domina Holbeck, Sloane Fitzgerald, Brian Sacripanti, LBI Entertainment
Character name: Angie

Character description: A butch lesbian with rockstar energy and Hannah’s crush.

Role: Supporting

John Michael Higgins “Principal Lundy”

Bio: John Michael Higgins is an incredibly diverse artist. Audiences are often surprised by his chameleon like character changes. The guy who played David Letterman in the highly acclaimed HBO film THE LATE SHIFT is indeed the same guy who played the flamboyantly gay Shih-Tzu handler in Christopher Guest’s BEST IN SHOW.

Michael can recently be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s LICORICE PIZZA which received many accolades including a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. He can also be seen on TV opposite Briga Heelan, Horatio Sanz, and Andrea Martin in NBC’s GREAT NEWS, the comedy developed by Tracey Wigfield. Michael can be seen on the Tubi comedy CLASSMATES and on Christopher Guest’s MASCOTS, opposite Jane Lynch, Zach Woods and Chris O’Dowd, streaming on Netflix. Prior to that, he starred in SHIMMER LAKE opposite Rainn Wison and Rob Corddry.

Previously, Michael starred in Cameron Crowe’s dramedy WE BOUGHT A ZOO opposite of Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, and Thomas Haden Church. He also starred in the Columbia Pictures comedy, BAD TEACHER, directed by Jake Kasdan and co-starring opposite Cameron Diaz, Jason Segal, and Justin Timberlake. Michael was seen in THE UGLY TRUTH opposite Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, as well as the Universal comedy COUPLES RETREAT alongside an all-star cast that included Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, and Jon Favreau. Other credits include PITCH PERFECT 1, 2 & 3, YES MAN, FIRED UP, FRED CLAUSE, EVAN ALMIGHTY, THE BREAK UP, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, A MIGHTY WIND, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, and BLADE 3

Michael also starred on TV Land’s HAPPILY DIVORCED opposite Fran Drescher and has since done a number of guest star appearances including the CBS comedy MIKE AND MOLLY, TBS’s SULLIVAN AND SON, and the critically acclaimed CBS drama, THE GOOD WIFE. Michael also has a multitude of other credits including RAISING THE BAR, ARRESTED development, and ALLY MCBEAL.

Rep Line: UTA / SOWDLLP
Character name: Principal Lundy

Character description: Jess and Hannah’s High school principal with a passion for safe sex education.

Role: Supporting

Chelsea Handler “Barb”

Rep Line: Handler is represented by UTA, Ocean Avenue, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox, L.L.P.
Character name: Barb

Character description: Greg’s mother who’s obsessed with their dog, Lucy.

Role: Supporting

EPs

Director: Kim O. Nguyen

Bio: Kim O. Nguyen is a Vietnamese comedy director who started her career as a successful commercial director working with numerous high profile actors and comedians including Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, and Reese Witherspoon. She recently wrapped the feature movie PROM DATES for Hulu with American High and Hartbeat producing. PROM DATES stars Julia Lester, who starred in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and was nominated for a Tony Award for the 2022 Broadway revival INTO THE WOODS, Antonia Gentry (GINNY & GEORGIA), Chelsea Handler, and John Michael Higgins (LICORICE PIZZA). In television, some of her credits include SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST for Netflix, WELCOME TO FLATCH for Fox, WITH LOVE for Amazon, BOO BITCH for Netflix, THE OTHER TWO for HBO Max, and TRUE STORY starring Ed Helms and Randall Park for Peacock. She also directed episodes of NEVER HAVE I EVER for Netflix, BROOKLYN 99 for NBC.

Rep line: Stacey Lubliner at 3 Arts Entertainment, Verve
Writer & EP: D.J. Mausner

Bio/Credits: D.J. Mausner is a queer, nonbinary writer/performer who wrote and executive produced the upcoming Hulu teen comedy, PROM DATES, produced by Hartbeat and American High. They are currently serving as a staff writer on Nickelodeon’s MAX AND THE MIDKNIGHTS and consulting on various projects for NETFLIX ANIMATION. They previously won a Canadian Screen Award for best writing in a variety sketch comedy series for their work on CBC/IFC’s BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW. Additionally, D.J. was featured in the 2023 CBS TALENT SHOWCASE and starred opposite Ruby Rose, Paris Berelc and Barbie’s Hari Nef in the Amazon/Lionsgate comedy feature 1UP.

Rep line: Artists First, Ginsburg Daniels Kallis LLP

	Prom Dates
	Release: 2024-05-02Genre: ComedyDuration: 86 minsBudget: $ 0
	Overview Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact. But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.