the_duff

After taking supporting roles in Arrested Development, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and more, Mae Whitman has finally received the opportunity to take the lead. Set for a release next year, The Duff follows her as she soon realizes she’s known as the titular character (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) and sets out to change the notion.

Directed by Ari Sandel, the first trailer has now landed today for the adaptation of Kody Keplinger‘s novel. Taking on a style and tone akin to the decade-old Mean Girls, it’s nice to see Whitman transitioning to bigger roles and hopefully the material makes for a worthwhile high school-set comedy. Also starring Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca Santos, Skyler Samuels, Nick Eversman, Alison Janney, Romany Malco and Ken Jeong, check out the trailer below.

Bianca (Mae Whitman) is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as ‘The DUFF’ (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos). Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher (Ken Jeong), she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby (Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (Robbie Amell), a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself. To save her senior year from turning into a total disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school’s ruthless label maker Madison (Bella Thorne) and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone’s DUFF.

The Duff opens next year.

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