Recently, it was revealed that talented actors Ariana Greenblatt, known for her roles in Barbie and Borderlands, Billy Magnussen, recognized for his performances in No Time to Die, Road House, and The Franchise, alongside Ella Purnell, famed for Fallout, Yellowjackets, and Army of the Dead, have joined the cast of the highly anticipated comedy thriller Hot Ted. This marks the feature directorial debut of Hannah Levy, a segment director from Saturday Night Live. Levy has described this project as “a psychosexual thriller as imagined by virgins,” drawing comparisons to Mean Girls and American Psycho. Recently, Magnussen added another layer to the project, describing Hot Ted as a thrilling and comedic female counterpart to Superbad.
The screenplay for Hot Ted is penned by Grace McLeod and follows a captivating synopsis: When 16-year-old true-crime podcast aficionado Zoe (played by Greenblatt) is reluctantly sent to Camp Shady Pines for the summer by her parents, she quickly finds herself ostracized as the black sheep of the Beaver Cabin. The atmosphere shifts dramatically when their bunk counselor, Liz, mysteriously fails to appear for breakfast, leading Zoe’s crush, Amy (portrayed by Purnell), to claim Liz has left due to a “family emergency.” However, Zoe remains skeptical and suspects the charming counselor, Ted (Magnussen), might be connected to Liz’s sudden disappearance. Ted exhibits all the classic traits of a potential serial killer: he has no social media presence, drives a van, and is overly friendly with everyone. The real question looms: is Ted truly a murderer, or is he simply the epitome of attractiveness? Zoe and her fellow cabin mates, the Beavers, take it upon themselves to uncover the truth behind Hot Ted: is he a serial killer, or just an incredibly appealing guy?
Magnussen is taking on the role of producer for this film with collaborators Shane Andries and Anne Hollister from HappyBad Bungalow, as well as Javier Chapa and Phillip Braun of Mucho Mas, alongside Purnell. Serving as executive producers for Mucho Mas are Morgan Cano-Long and Robert Muñoz. Additionally, Dave Bishop, James Pugh, and George Hamilton from Protagonist are also stepping in as executive producers to ensure the film’s success.
In a conversation with Collider, Magnussen elaborated, “This is essentially a female-centric take on Superbad. Every successful film is built on a solid premise that is easily understood. The narrative revolves around young girls discovering that individuals they perceived as safe can actually be quite dangerous, which is a chilling realization. It’s a profound irony that someone previously considered safe can turn out to be terrifying. Hot Ted delves into this unsettling dichotomy—whether the camp counselor is a trustworthy figure or a potential serial killer. It’s a thrilling blend of fear and fun, showcasing young girls navigating their transition into womanhood.”
Are you intrigued by the premise of Hot Ted? We invite you to share your insights on this exciting “female Superbad” comedy thriller by leaving a comment below. Your thoughts matter to us!
