There are a ton of reasons to be excited about Turtles All the Way Down. First of all, the film about a young woman coping with anxiety is an adaptation of the novel by John Green, an author who has seen many of his works adapted, including The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns. It stars Isabela Merced, one of the most talented young stars working today (despite her recent role in Madame Web), in her reunion with Green after starring in an adaptation of his book Let It Snow. And finally, the film is directed by Hannah Marks, the talented young actress/filmmaker who has made a splash with Banana Split, After Everything, and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.
And this is definitely a story that is arriving at the right time because I think our collective anxiety is at an all-time high right now. Merced is joined in the cast by Cree Cicchino, Felix Mallard, Maliq Johnson, Poorna Jagannathan, Judy Reyes, and Succession‘s J. Smith-Cameron.
Here’s the synopsis: TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN tackles anxiety through its 17-year-old protagonist, Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced). It’s not easy being Aza, but she’s trying… trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good student, all while navigating an endless barrage of invasive, obsessive thoughts that she cannot control. When she reconnects with Davis, her childhood crush, Aza is confronted with fundamental questions about her potential for love, happiness, friendship, and hope.
Turtles All the Way Down premieres on Max on May 2nd.
