Culture / Film

Ashley Benson, Madelaine Petsch and Emily Lind unite for ‘Pretty Babies’

pretty babies

There's a new female-led indie drama is on the horizon, and it's bringing together a powerful cast. Titled Pretty Babies, the project follows two teenage girls who set off in search of fame and freedom — but find themselves caught in a much darker reality.

The feature debut of writer-director Tyler-Marie Evans, Pretty Babies is being billed as a modern, at times confronting, take on the cost of chasing the Hollywood dream. Here's what you need to know.

 

Who is involved?

The film stars Ashley Benson, best known for her role in Pretty Little Liars and cult favourite Spring Breakers. She also recently appeared in the psychological thriller McVeigh, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. Madelaine Petsch, known for her role as Cheryl Blossom on Riverdale, is joining benson, having recently expanded her film work with projects like The Strangers – Chapter 2 and Maintenance Required.

If you loved We Were Liars, consider yourself in luck. Emily Alyn Lind, who led the Amazon series, is returning to our screens, though exactly what role she'll play remains to be seen. And rounding out the cast is Sadie Stanley, who broke out in Disney’s Kim Possible and has since appeared in Cruel Summer and Karate Kid: Legends.

 

What is Pretty Babies about?

Set between Texas and California, Pretty Babies follows two teenage girls who run away to Hollywood, hoping to break into the world of fame. But instead of movie sets and red carpets, they find themselves pulled into prostitution and the underworld of the sex industry.

Described by Evans as “a love letter to Old Hollywood,” the film re-imagines the coming-of-age road movie through a darker lens, challenging the glossy myth of the Hollywood dream and exposing what it can cost young women in search of freedom.

 

When will it air?

Pretty Babies is set to begin production in mid-2025. While no official release date has been confirmed, we expect it to premiere on the indie film festival circuit in 2026.

 

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