Amy Poehler is set to direct Moxie for Netflix, a movie based on the YA novel of the same name by Jennifer Mathieu about a teen girl who starts a Riot Grrrl-inspired feminist revolution at her high school. Netflix has made a concerted push into original teen-focused films over the last year or so. The streaming service found success with The Kissing Booth, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Dumplin’ in 2018, all three being high school-set romantic comedies. In fact, Netflix has since greenlighted both a To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before sequel and The Kissing Booth 2, proving the streamer’s success in the teen realm.
It’s no surprise, then, that Netflix would want to expand further by adapting more young adult novels (Kissing Booth, To all The Boys and Dumplin’ were all based on YA books, written by Beth Reekles, Jenny Han, and Julie Murphy respectively). In the fantasy genre, Netflix is adapting Leigh Bardugo’s YA Grishaverse world to TV in a Shadow and Bone series that will adapt two of Bardugo’s books, Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. But fans of contemporary YA novels won’t be left in the dust, as Netflix is also looking to adapt a 2017 release into a new movie.
Deadline reports that Netflix and Amy Poehler will adapt Jennifer Mathieu’s 2017 young adult contemporary novel, Moxie, as a new film. Poehler will direct and produce through her Paper Kite Productions label, which also partnered with Netflix on the recent hit Russian Doll and the upcoming feature film Wine Country. Further, Wine Country marks Poehler’s feature-length directorial debut, making Moxie the second film she’ll direct. Tamara Chestna wrote the script for Moxie, which will start production in the fall, making a 2020 release date likely.
Moxie tells the story of 16-year-old Vivian Carter, who becomes frustrated by the antiquated and sexist social rules of her Texas high school. Fueled by inspiration from her mother’s Riot Grrrl past, Viv starts an anonymous, feminist zine at her school that takes aim at how girls are treated, particularly by members of the football team. However, when old friendships and new relationships come into conflict with Viv’s newfound mission, she’ll have to decide where her loyalties lie and what she’s willing to fight for. The book and the movie are inspired by the Riot Grrrl underground punk rock feminist movement and subculture of the ’90s, and applied to a contemporary setting.
Moxie sounds like a perfect fit for Poehler, who has used her clout in Hollywood to produce female-focused stories in film and television. From Russian Doll to her upcoming movie Wine Country - which she directs and co-stars in alongside fellow SNL alums Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer - Poehler is working to bring all kinds of women-centric stories to life. As a unique blend of high school drama and Riot Grrrl feminism, Moxie perfectly aligns with Poehler’s mission to produce female-led projects. And with Netflix expanding their own teen-focused content library, Moxie is sure to fit right in on the streaming service as well.
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Source: Deadline
