It’s riding down the namesake boulevard and seeing your name illuminated in the beaming bulbs of the marquee. It’s seeing your name amongst all the greats who have come before you on the Walk of Fame. Most profoundly, perhaps, it’s when your fame is an apt reflection of the towering letters in the Hollywood sign. That’s when you know you’ve made it. Such a euphoric sensation is still pretty fresh in the minds of moviegoers, courtesy of Damien Chazelle’s resurrection and a new take on the Golden Age musical with “La La Land.” The new film “The High Note” (formerly known as “Covers”), follows a similar vein, as someone new looks to make their mark on the entertainment landscape.
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Director Nisha Ganatra looks to follow up on the critical success of her previous picture, last year’s “Late Night.” Ganatra also co-wrote the screenplay for “The Cheetah Girls: One World” on Disney Channel and wrote for Lifetime on their ballet drama “Center Stage: On Pointe.” Additionally, producing pair Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are attached to the project and add this film to a list of credits that include “Baby Driver” and “Mary Queen of Scots.”
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Lead actress Dakota Johnson has teased audiences in the past with a bit of singing in “A Bigger Splash” and “How to Be Single.” Could this be the vehicle to showcase her range? Co-star Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) has flexed her vocal chops intermittently as well. It also doesn’t hurt to be the daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross, too. Filling out the rest of the cast are rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube, Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“It Comes at Night” & “Luce”), and Zoe Chao (“Strangers”).
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Here’s “The High Note” synopsis:
Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene comes the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights. Maggie (Dakota Johnson) is Grace’s overworked personal assistant who’s stuck running errands, but still aspires to her childhood dream of becoming a music producer. When Grace’s manager (Ice Cube) presents her with a choice that could alter the course of her career, Maggie and Grace come up with a plan that could change their lives forever.
“The High Note”—distributed by Focus Features—is set to be released on May 8. Will another big dreamer get to bask in the bright lights of Tinseltown? Check out the trailer below and find out.
