Lea Thompson, Kevin Pollak, Leanne Melissa Bishop and Aaron Ashmore ask WHAT IF

[Toronto, ON — September 9, 2024] Penguin Pictures and Farpoint Films announce Lea Thompson ( Back to the Future), Kevin Pollak ( The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Leanne Melissa Bishop ( The Weight of Perfection) and Aaron Ashmore ( Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia) will star in their newest feature film, WHAT IF. The offbeat family drama will be directed by TIFF veteran Lindsay MacKay ( The Swearing Jar) and is written by Leanne Melissa Bishop.

WHAT IF is produced by Michael P. Mason (Place of Bones), Leanne Melissa Bishop ( In Search of), and Kyle Bornais ( The Swearing Jar) of Farpoint Films. Executive producers include Peter Wetherell.

“We are beyond excited about the talented cast we’ve assembled. WHAT IF is filled with complex, layered characters, and this cast’s combined talent and experience are a perfect fit to breathe life into this heartfelt story.” Said Mason. “These days audiences are yearning for authenticity in their content, there’s a real desire globally for films that tell these kinds of universal human stories. Lindsay has such a great instinct with character, we can’t wait to see how she works with this incredible cast to bring the script to life.” He continued.

“I am thrilled to be working with such an exceptional cast on this film that is so near and dear to me. Each talent brings their own unique voice, which will allow all of these characters to come to life. For me, family is very important, and family means different things to many people. Often in life, we find ourselves searching for a sense of belonging, wanting to be accepted. I hope this film helps people to understand, accept, and love themselves, for exactly who they are. I’m excited to see the magic everyone brings to the big screen.” Said Bishop.

Marley (Bishop), new to her 40s, struggles with a mid-life crisis as she leaves her long-term fiancé at the altar. Trying to pick up the pieces, she discovers a dark secret — she is a hospital birth mix-up, she grew up in the wrong family. Suddenly, everything makes sense. At the same time, Marley comes face-to-face with the most significant questions that shake her to the core and need answering.

Although her mother (Thompson) and father (Pollak) mean well, their conservative, orderly life simply doesn’t ‘fit’ Marley and never has. Her new mission becomes finding her real family. As her journey begins, she reconnects with Devan (Ashmore), an old high school friend, and the two embark on an eye-opening road trip full of surprises and discoveries. As they search for Marley’s birth parents, they each begin to learn the truth about themselves and their families, opening them up to lives they would have never imagined possible otherwise.

“ WHAT IF is a special film that gives a voice to the choices we make every day,” said producer Kyle Bornais of Farpoint Films. “We might not realize it, but it’s these daily decisions — not the outcome — that bond us together. WHAT IF is a film about the connection that makes us human that will resonate with audiences everywhere. I am excited to be working from Leanne Melissa Bishop’s thought-provoking script, with the amazing Lindsay MacKay as director, and a producing team that includes Michael P. Mason, Tony Wosk and Peter Wetherell.”

WHAT IF is currently in the pre-production phase with plans to start filming later this year.

Originally published at http://behindtherabbitproductions.wordpress.com on September 9, 2024.