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Exclusive: Abby Ryder Fortson, who starred as Margaret in 2023’s Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, and as a young Cassie in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), will star in the independently financed feature dramedy, Rated, directed by John Fortson.

Based on his award-winning short film of the same name, Rated the short, quickly captivated the festival circuit, earning rave reviews and 23 awards from over 60 festivals worldwide including Palm Springs Shortfest, Savannah International, Short Shorts Japan, Asthetica UK, Cleveland International, and Rhode Island International.

Rated also stars Christie Lynn Smith, who co-wrote the script with Fortson, Dale Dickey, Spencer Garrett and Darryl Cox.

Jacob Ryan Snovel (Agnes), Kyle Kauwika Harris (The Huntsman) from SafeHouse Films are producing alongside Smith and Fortson under their new production company Loose Leaf Films,...

Abby Ryder Fortson may be leading a big blockbuster movie with vets like Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates, but she's no acting newbie. The 15-year-old stars as the titular lead of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" (out on April 28), the long-awaited movie adaptation of Judy Blume's beloved 1970 book, but she's been featured in plenty of other onscreen projects - most notably, in the Ant-Man movies as Cassie Lang.

Ryder Fortson, who started acting when she was four years old, apparently caught the acting bug from her thespian parents, John Fortson and Christie Lynn Smith. During an April 26 interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," the young star recalled when her parents would take her to their auditions when she was a kid. "I would sit on the producer's couch and I'd just watch them," she shared. "And one day, when I was about three-and-a-half or something, I just turned to them and was like,...

Rachel McAdams and 12-year-old Abby Ryder Fortson have been cast to star in Lionsgate’s adaptation of the classic Judy Blume novel “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

Ryder Fortson, who is best known as Paul Rudd’s daughter in the “Ant-Man” movies, will play the title character Margaret Simon. McAdams will play Margaret’s mother, Barbara.

“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” will be written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. The legendary James L. Brooks is producing the film adaptation through his Gracie Films banner after he and Fremon Craig previously collaborated on “The Edge of Seventeen.” Production on the film is expected to being in April.

“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” is a timeless coming-of-age story about a sixth-grader who questions everything about adolescence and puberty while searching the universe for whatever answers she can find. With her mother and grandmother...

Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson have been cast in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” an adaptation of Judy Blume’s beloved coming-of-age book.

Fortson will play Margaret Simon, a sixth-grade girl who is going through puberty and searches the universe for any answers she can find. McAdams is portraying Margaret’s mother, Barbara.

The movie, set up at Lionsgate, will be written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. It’s expected to begin production in April.

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” was first published in 1970 and remains hugely popular among young, budding readers. Blume has long been opposed to screen adaptations of her seminal work, a notable list that includes “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” “Blubber,” “Forever” and “Tiger Eyes.” However, the upcoming version of “Are You There God?” — especially the casting — comes with Blume’s blessing.

“Abby is funny and tender, strong yet vulnerable.

Abby Ryder Fortson, who stars as Ant-Man/Scott Lang’s daughter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, has been set to play Margaret in Lionsgate’s feature adaptation of Judy Blume’s iconic Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, the studio confirmed Friday. Also aboard is Rachel McAdams who will play Margaret’s mother, Barbara.

Production begins in April on the pic, which will be written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, who penned the teen-angst pic The Edge of Seventeen starring Hailee Steinfeld. She is reteaming with her Seventeen director James L. Brooks and his Gracie Films banner; they are producing with Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, Amy Brooks and Blume.

Meredith Wieck and Chelsea Kujawa are overseeing the project for the studio.

The story in Blume’s 1970 must-read for tween girls, Margaret Simon is a sixth grader who is questioning everything about adolescence and puberty, is searching...