Blue Fox Entertainment Sets North American Release For Coming-Of-Age Pic ‘Empire Waist’ Starring Mia Kaplan, Rainn Wilson & Missi Pyle

EXCLUSIVE: Blue Fox Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it will be bringing Wayfarer Studios’ body-positive, coming-of-age YA film Empire Waist, starring Mia Kaplan (SMILF), Rainn Wilson (The Office) and Missi Pyle (Captain Fantastic), to theaters across the U.S. and Canada on September 27.

Marking the debut feature of writer-director Claire Ayoub, whose script was ranked as the #1 Comedy on the Black List in 2019, the film follows Lenore Miller (Kaplan), an overweight, insecure teen whose talent for fashion is discovered by her confident, plus-sized classmate (newcomer Jemima Yevu), forcing her into the spotlight — and into the path of both bullies and new friends. Lenore’s father Mark (Wilson) is her biggest cheerleader, but the fears of her image-conscious mother (Pyle) and Lenore’s own insecurities prevent her from wearing her own designs. Will Lenore ever feel the self-love she inspires in others?

In conjunction with Empire Waist‘s theatrical release, the filmmakers will soon unveil the Empire Waist Confidence Curriculum — a free resource on body image and self-confidence for tweens, teens, and adults, enabled by Gillette Venus, which will help them to process questions and feelings raised by the film.

Produced in association with Ayoub’s Try Anyway Productions, American High, Wayfarer Studios and P&G Studios, pic’s cast also includes Jolene Purdy (The White Lotus), Daisy Washington (Spider-Man: The Lost Avenger), Holly McDowell (Lie Next to Me), newcomer Kassandra Tellez, Isabella Pisacane (Law & Order; Special Victims Unit), Tabyana Ali (General Hospital), Aric Floyd (Doors), and fashion designer Joe Ando-Hirsh (The Walking Dead).

The film was produced by Crystal Collins, Justin Baldoni and Andrew Calof. Steve Sarowitz, Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps, Molle DeBartolo, Kimberly Doebereiner, and Anna Saalfeld served as executive producers, with Angela Cardon as co-producer. Blue Fox acquired worldwide rights to the project last year and launched sales ahead Cannes, at the same time setting plans to release the film domestically.

In a statement on the acquisition, Ayoub told Deadline, “Making Empire Waist was such a deeply healing experience for me. Knowing that audiences across North America and around the world will be learning that they are worthy and loved exactly as they are goes beyond my wildest dreams. I’m so grateful to the team at Blue Fox Entertainment for championing our film and its message.”

Added Blue Fox’s Lisa Gutberlet, “We’re very excited to bring Empire Waist and its body-positive messaging to theatrical audiences this Fall. Working with Wayfarer Studios, P&G Studios, and writer-director Claire Ayoub on her debut feature has been a dream, and we look forward to seeing how impactful this film about self-love will be to anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin.”