Nickelodeon Star JoJo Siwa to Star in Paramount Film ‘Bounce’ From Will Smith

Nickelodeon superstar, YouTube sensation, pop star, dancer, entrepreneur, and social media influencer JoJo Siwa will star in the movie adaptation of the book Bounce, Variety has learned.

Paramount Pictures won the rights to the novel following a competitive bidding war. Will Smith and James Lassiter will produce through their Overbrook Entertainment banner, alongside Caleeb Pinkett.

It's currently unclear whether Nickelodeon will be involved in the movie, however, its not impossible. JoJo is a Nickelodeon star, and Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures are production partners. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Nickelodeon and JoJo were working on a new movie.

Based on the book by Megan Shull, Bounce is a heartwarming story about a teenage girl who wishes she could trade her family for a new one on Christmas Eve. Her wish is granted and she finds herself “bouncing” into the lives of other girls and living Christmas Day on repeat — learning the value of family, finding your voice and the power of love.

Josann McGibbon will adapt the script. The studio is currently looking for a director.

While she broke onto the scene as one of Abby Lee Miller’s students on two seasons of Dance Moms, Siwa’s big break came with her debut single, “Boomerang.” She currently has 11.4 million YouTube subscribers. Siwa currently has an overall talent deal and consumer product partnership with Nickelodeon, which has seen her feature in the Nickelodeon Original Movie Blurt! and star in her own Nickelodeon specials and short-form series, as well as host Nickelodeon’s hit competition series Lip Sync Battle Shorties. She has also guest starred in a multitude of Nickelodeon series. Currently, her only other feature film credit is the animated pic The Angry Birds Movie 2. Siwa is repped by Caryn Sterling, Sterling Worldwide Entertainment and Paradigm.

McGibbon has been working in the TV realm over the past decade on shows that include The Starter Wife, Desperate Housewives and, most recently, TheFamilyof4. She is repped by 3 Arts.

Smith and Lassiter are currently putting together the Cannes package Emancipation, which Smith is toplining and producing, along with Lassiter, and Antoine Fuqua is directing. The film is currently out to buyers.

Shull is repped by WME.

Update (12/17) - Amber Rasberry, formally vice president of development for Paramount Players, worked on the movie.

More Nick: JoJo Siwa Entertains Fans from Her Backyard with First *WORLDWIDE LIVE* Performance!

Originally published: Thursday, June 25, 2020.

H/T: Just Jared Jr.

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