“Jem and the Holograms,” the upcoming live-action adaptation of Hasbro’s 1980s animated series about a young woman who moonlights as a rock star, just got an infusion of ‘80s flair and rock ‘n’ roll edge, adding Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis to the cast.

Ringwald is known for starring in such beloved ‘80s teen films as “Pretty in Pink,” “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club,” and Lewis fronted the rock band Juliette and the Licks for years before moving on to pursue solo work.

Ringwald’s and Lewis’ roles have yet to be revealed, but they will join “Nashville” actress Aubrey Peeples as Jem and Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau and Hayley Kiyoko as her band, the Holograms. Ryan Guzman will play Jem’s love interest, Rio.

Jon M. Chu (“Step Up 2,” “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never”) is directing from a script by Ryan Landels.


The original “Jem and the Holograms” TV series was about a young woman who masqueraded as a pop star with the help of holographic supercomputer, and the updated story revolves around an orphaned teen who becomes an online recording sensation and embarks on a journey to unlock a message left behind by her father.

When the Universal film was announced in March, producers said the movie would re-imagine Jem “for a whole new generation, with themes of being true to who you are in a multitasking, hyperlinked, social-media age.”

Production is underway in Los Angeles.