Halle Bailey And Regé-Jean Page To Star In 'Italianna' For Universal Pictures

Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are set to headline Italianna, an upcoming film from Universal Pictures, directed by Kat Coiro. The screenplay, written by Ryan Engle, is based on an original concept by Ryan and Kristin Engle. Plot details remain under wraps.

The film will be produced by Will Packer and Johanna Byer under Will Packer Productions' first-look deal with Universal. Erik Baiers and Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for Universal, with Alvie Hurtado managing for Will Packer Productions.

Coiro reunites with Universal following her work on the 2022 rom-com Marry Me, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. The studio and director sought the right project to collaborate on again, eventually landing on Italianna and securing Bailey and Page as the lead stars.

Bailey, known as half of the Grammy-nominated duo Chloe x Halle, made her film debut as Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (2023) and will appear in Warner Bros' The Color Purple. Page gained fame through Bridgerton, earning Emmy and SAG nominations. He stars alongside Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag.

Coiro recently directed CBS's Matlock pilot, starring Kathy Bates, and earned DGA and Emmy nominations for Roku’s The Spiderwick Chronicles. Engle, known for films like Non-Stop, Rampage, and Beast, continues his 15-year screenwriting career with this latest project.

Will Packer Productions boasts an impressive box office track record, with nine films opening at No. 1 and Girl's Trip breaking records as a top-grossing R-rated comedy.

Bailey is represented by CAA. Page is with UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Shelter PR, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Coiro is represented by CAA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern. Engle is with CAA, Mosaic, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead LLP. Packer is represented by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.