A new promotional image from the upcoming He’s All That film features stars Addison Rae in her acting debut and Cobra Kai actor Tanner Buchanan. In September 2020, Netflix announced a new take on the 1999 teen classic She’s All That, which starred Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook. The story is seen as a modern take on My Fair Lady, with the arrogant male lead boasting that he can make any girl in school popular.
This time, the genders are swapped, with Padgett Sawyer (Rae) taking on the bet to transform her high school classmate Cameron Kweller (Buchanan) with a makeover. Rae shared the news of her casting with her 37.9 million Instagram followers with the caption “AHHHHH!!! My dreams are coming true!!!”. Netflix bosses will be hoping Rae’s popularity on TikTok (with 79 million followers, she is the second most-followed individual on the platform) will carry over to the streaming platform. Her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon received a mixed response, with some commenting that a segment performing TikTok dances did not credit Black creators.
A new image released exclusively to USA Today shows Padgett well on her way to transforming Cameron into the prom king. The pair appear to be attending a 1920s-themed party, with the TikTok star dressed in a glittery flapper-style dress. While Buchanan holds a retro film camera for the occasion, Rae appears to be clutching a pink smartphone. Like the actress behind the role, Padgett will appear in the movie as a teen influencer. It’s likely the character will use innovative social media/TikTok methods to transform her co-star.
Netflix has remained mostly tight-lipped on what else the film has in store for viewers, although an announcement from the company in March provides further details. Cook will return in a cameo portraying Rae’s mother, ensuring some casting continuity with the original film. Matthew Lillard, who appeared in the original film as a crude reality star, will also feature in an unknown role. Additional pictures from the film show Rae making over Buchanan with a haircut, as well as images showing the lead actors riding horses and canoodling in a dimly-lit room, hinting at a romantic relationship developing between the characters.
With Rae’s acting chops not yet proven, some fans of the original She’s All That are skeptical about this remake. However, fans will be relieved to learn director Mark Waters will helm the film. He found success in the past with teen movies Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, one of the most quotable comedies of the last few decades. Netflix has announced a summer release, with the film hitting the streaming platform on August 27. Stay tuned to find out if He’s All That really is “all that.”
Key Release Dates
He’s All That
Release Date:2021-08-27
