Disney+’s film adaptation of Sharon Draper’s novel Out of My Mind has added Rosemarie DeWitt (The Staircase), Emmy Award-winner Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and four-time Emmy Award nominee Judith Light (American Crime Story, Transparent) in key roles. Michael Chernus (Severance) and Courtney Taylor (Insecure) have also joined the drama directed by Amber Sealey.
Out of My Mind will film in Toronto. Disney+ hasn’t announced a targeted premiere date.
Humanitas Prize winner Daniel Stiepleman (On the Basis of Sex) adapted Draper’s novel and Oscar nominee Peter Saraf (Little Miss Sunshine) produces. Dan Angel, Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub, Jeff Skoll, Robert Kessel, Tom Mazza, David Calvert Jones, Brian Gott, and Eddie Rubin executive produce.
Disney+’s casting announcement included the following synopsis and character details:
“Out of My Mind follows Melody Brooks (newcomer Phoebe-Rae Taylor), a girl with cerebral palsy. Melody has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but due to her being non-verbal and using a wheelchair, she is not given the same academic opportunities as her classmates. However, when Katherine, a young educator notices her student’s untapped potential, she encourages Melody to participate in mainstream education, where greater successes – and challenges – await.
Rosemarie DeWitt will play Diane, Melody’s mother and fiercest advocate, and Luke Kirby plays her supportive father, Chuck. Judith Light plays “Mrs. V.,” the Brooks’ eccentric but caring neighbor who, though her style may be unconventional, always looks out for Melody. Courtney Taylor is Katherine, a post-doctoral candidate and educator, and Michael Chernus plays Mr. Dimming, Melody’s teacher and coach of her school’s trivia team.”
