‘This Is Us’ Star Mandy Moore Wants Olivia Rodrigo to Star in ‘A Walk to Remember’ Reboot
It seems like everyone has fallen in love with teen pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, and This Is Us star Mandy Moore is no exception. Moore named the “drivers license” singer as the person she would want to play her original role in a reboot of her popular 2002 film A Walk to Remember.
Mandy Moore starred in the 2002 movie ‘A Walk to Remember’
Singer and actor Mandy Moore is a household name, and one of her most memorable roles was Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember. She earned an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performance, a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Movie Actress, and another Teen Choice Award shared with co-star Shane West for Choice Movie Chemistry.
But director Adam Shankman admitted that Moore wasn’t the first choice for the role. “The studio had me looking at Jessica Simpson,” he told Elle. “But I was driving up Laurel Canyon, I heard Mandy’s song ‘I Wanna Be With You,’ and I thought, who the hell is that little angel voice? I went to the Virgin record store, saw her face, and flipped out. I said, ‘That’s my girl.’”
Shane West was cast before Moore, and he knew upon meeting her that she should have the part. “We had that meeting where we had an audition,” West told EW. “And [we] were both in the same room and I was like, ‘She’s perfect for the role.’”
Mandy Moore said Olivia Rodrigo should play her original role in a reboot of ‘A Walk to Remember’
In a recent interview with People celebrating the 20th anniversary of the romantic drama film, Mandy Moore said she thinks it’s time A Walk to Remember got a reboot.
“I would love that,” said the This Is Us star. When asked who she thinks should play her original role as Jamie Sullivan, a particular pop star came to Moore’s mind.
“I don’t know, Olivia Rodrigo or something like that,” Moore said. “Someone could redo this film. I would love to see it.”
She added that enough time has passed that a remake would be welcomed by fans of the original movie. “It’s been long enough that, yeah, I feel like we’ve earned our place in cinematic history for a reboot at this point.”
Olivia Rodrigo’s next acting project is reportedly season 3 of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’
It makes sense that Mandy Moore would name Olivia Rodrigo to play her. While Moore acted from a young age, she got her start in the entertainment industry as a pop star. Her debut single “Candy” came out in 1999 and earned comparisons to singers like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Rodrigo was a Disney actor before achieving massive success as a pop star. She played guitarist Paige Olvera on the Disney show Bizaardvark for three seasons before starring as Nini Salazar-Roberts in Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
And just as West and Moore admitted to crushing on each other while filming A Walk to Remember, Rodrigo also found love with her Disney co-star, Joshua Bassett. Her relationship with Bassett famously inspired most of the bitter breakup songs on her Sour album.
