“There She Goes,” Feature-Length Romantic Comedy Starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Utkarsh Ambudkar, Starts Production in New York

“There She Goes,” a feature-length romantic comedy starring Rachael Leigh Cook (“Rescuing Christmas,” “She’s All That,” “Josie and The Pussycats”) and loosely based on her real-life experiences as a ’90s icon, has begun production in New York. Produced by FOX Entertainment Studios, the film also stars Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Ghosts,” “Free Guy,” “Brittany Runs A Marathon”), Ryan Hansen (“Good On Paper,” “Party Down,” “Veronica Mars”), Lea DeLaria (“Orange Is The New Black”), Becky Ann Baker (“Girls,” “Hunters,” “Big Little Lies”), Mark Linn-Baker (“Succession,” “Ghosts,” “Perfect Strangers”), Sakina Jaffrey (“Billions,” “Snowpiercer,” “Defending Jacob”), and Alok Tewari (“The Good Fight,” “Homeland”).

“I love this story and our cast. And I love that this film fits perfectly into our initiative to make female forward stories,” said Hannah Pillemer, Executive Vice President, Creative Services, FOX Entertainment Studios. “Rachael is absolutely made for this role, not just because it’s based in part on her own life experiences, but because she has a warmth, relatability and vulnerability that will grab the hearts of the audience.”

“FOX Entertainment Studios has a long history of empowering female filmmakers and I’m excited to be working with Hannah and the team on our latest project, ‘There She Goes,’ especially after the successful collaboration we had on ‘Rescuing Christmas,’” said Cook. “This is the kind of story I can only tell once and their trust in me and Utkarsh, along with Charles and Seth, has been incredible. This film loosely borrows from aspects of my life and career, and I can’t wait for audiences to see it.”

Along with FOX Entertainment Studios, “There She Goes” will be produced by Cook’s Ben’s Sister Productions and Choice Films, with Choice’s Summer Crockett Moore and Tony Glazer serving as producers. Cook and Ambudkar will serve as executive producers of the film along with Fernando Szew, Hannah Pillemer, Ani Kevork, and Angie Day from a script written by Charles Hood & Seth Goldsmith (“Night Owls”). The film is directed by Hood. Casting was by McCorkle Casting LTD.

“There She Goes,” is part of a multi-faceted, multi-year deal announced last year between FOX Entertainment Studios and Cook that will see the actress and producer collaborate with the prolific studio, through her production company, Ben’s Sister Productions, providing development and producing services on several projects across genres. Cook’s involvement will include working both in front of and behind the camera. The film will be distributed by FOX Entertainment Global.

The film centers on Molly (Cook) and Advay (Ambudkar), who as high school sweethearts seemed destined for their own forever until Molly landed a lead role in the quintessential ’90s teen romcom, “There She Goes,” and rocketed to stardom in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Advay stayed behind, running his parents’ bar in their small hometown. Twenty-five years later, despite her reputation as a rom-com queen, Molly is cynical about all things love and finds herself settled into an easy relationship with tech mogul Ezra (Hansen). But when she returns to her hometown to plan a big anniversary surprise party for her parents, Molly and Advay are forced to interact for the first time in decades after Molly is left with no choice but to hold the party at his bar. With old feelings starting to return, Molly becomes torn between her comfortable life with Ezra and the possibility of the future she could’ve had with Advay. With life imitating art, will Molly finally have her own rom-com ending?

Cook recently starred in the Netflix film “A Tourist’s Guide to Love,” which she developed the concept for and produced. The film was shot in Vietnam, a first for the streamer. Prior to that, she was seen in the film “Spirit Halloween,” opposite Christopher Lloyd. In 2021, she starred in Netflix’s “He’s All That,” a gender-swapped remake of her 1999 hit romantic comedy. In 2020, Cook pitched, produced, and starred in the Netflix film “Love Guaranteed” opposite Damon Wayans Jr. and Heather Graham. She began her acting career in 1995, when she booked her first audition as a lead in a major film in “The Baby-Sitters Club.” Cook quickly went on to star in a host of other films such as, “Strike!” and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated film “The Hi-Line.” Cook went on to earn her title as rom-com darling in iconic roles as Laney Boggs in “She’s All That” opposite Freddie Prinze Jr. (1999) and Josie McCoy in “Josie and the Pussycats” (2001). She has also developed numerous films for Hallmark.