For her next project, Rose Byrne will collaborate with an all-women creative team, mark the debut film from her production company, Dollhouse Pictures, and pay tribute to an icon and real-life hero. The “Mrs. America” actress is starring in and executive producing “Seriously Red,” a musical set to Dolly Parton’s oeuvre. According to a press release, the pic, now filming in Australia, is directed by Gracie Otto (“The Last Impresario”) and written by Krew Boylan (“Sando”), who also stars.
“In this rowdy and rambunctious musical comedy Red (Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life,” the synopsis teases. “A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red has to lose herself in order to find herself.”
Parton’s music is described as “the backbone of the film.” “Seriously Red” will feature her discography as well as re-recordings and covers of her work.
Dollhouse’s Jessica Carrera and Robyn Kershaw of Robyn Kershaw Productions are producing, and Arclight Films will handle worldwide distribution. Roadshow Films will distribute the film in Australia.
“Seriously Red” is the first feature film from Dollhouse Pictures, which Byrne set up with Carrera, Otto, Boylan, and filmmaker Shannon Murphy in 2015. It was originally named The Dollhouse Collective.
“’Seriously Red’ is created by an extraordinary all-female filmmaking team, which at Arclight Films we are proud to always champion. The film is a fun, upbeat celebration of women and their journey to self-acceptance,” Chairman Gary Hamilton said. “It’s a powerful film that appeals to worldwide distributors who understand that audiences will immediately fall in love with the story, the beautifully drawn characters… and the music!”
Byrne has received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nods for her work in in legal thriller “Damages.” “Mrs. America,” “Like a Boss,” and “Irresistible” are among her more recent credits.
You can catch Parton as a soul-saving angel in “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square,” a “Christmas Carol”-esque Netflix film premiering November 22. The country megastar recently made headlines for her $1 million investment in Moderna’s COVID vaccine.
Otto and Boylan worked together on short “Desert Dash” and sketch comedy project “Pypo.” The former’s directorial credits include series “The Other Guy,” and the latter counts “A Place to Call Home” and “Wild Boys” among her onscreen work.
