POPULAR

POPULAR (HAFEY & SMITH)

HBO MAX

Prod Co: Berlanti Prods., The Arlook Group
Dates: Summer 2020 start
Location: TBD

Writer (Current): Hannah Hafey, Kaitlin Smith

Producer: Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Richard Arlook, Jack Greenbaum

Logline: A gay high school journalist/gossip columnist/outcast recruits the new girl at school to help him achieve his dreams of joining the
popular crowd, but soon he learns that nothing is as it seems on the surface.

[OLLIE ST. JOHN]
Lead Male (17 - 18)
"A cute twink." Editor of the school paper(s), Ollie is a gossip hound, and his favorite subject is Harper. She's been his arch enemy since day one, when she turned him away from the popular table, and he's been doing his best to cultivate her downfall ever since. When Ava arrives on the scene, Ollie sees his chance to finally get in with Harper and her crowd, but when Ava takes it further than planned and becomes far more cruel than Harper ever was, he struggles to make things right and eventually learns -- and reveals to the whole class -- that Ava is a 23-year-old imposter. Along the way, Ollie learns that he isn't just "uncool" or unpopular -- he has a mean streak of his own that he needs to address, and he ultimately learns to chill out and be a better friend, hold himself to higher standards.

[HARPER WEST]
Lead Female (17 - 18)
"The epitome of high school chic. This girl was born for teen popularity. She is teen-girl-hot in a way that will one day mature into real beauty." The most popular girl in school, she also has the coolest parents (Susan and Dean), but she struggles under pressure to get into Columbia, star in the play, etc. She is suspicious of Ava, but no one else thinks that she seems off, and soon she loses her whole life to Ollie and Ava's scheming. She is deeply distraught, but she learns to face up to her mistakes and apologize as needed. She goes to the prom with Diego after all, and when she becomes the Prom Queen, she gives her title to Ollie.

[AVA LAMONTE]
Supporting Female (20 - 25)
"An adorable ingenue with an edge." She is very plain when she first arrives at the high school, but Ollie takes her under his wing and she starts fitting right in. She soon takes over Harper's life, in a not-un-creepy way, and she stars in the school play, asks Diego to the prom, etc. She is crowned Prom Queen, but then it is revealed that she is 23 years old, an imposter trying to do-over her sad high school experience. Ava flees and is never seen again.

[APRIL EGAN]
Supporting Female (17 - 18)
"Spazzy but lovable." Harper's best friend, she is now dating Bertie and she struggles to make Harper believe it's not just a fade. She's into women's lit, and she helps out with the play, but she's angry that Harper can be so insensitive -- until Harper apologizes, and then she is so glad to have her back.

[BERTIE CRUZ]
Supporting Female (17 - 18)
"Big butch lesbian." April's girlfriend, she directs the "Molly Brown" play, and after Harper passes out and Ava takes over, she's thrilled, hopes his will be a stepping-stone for a career in theatre, Ava is so good.