Donald Petrie, director of “Miss Congeniality” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” brings a pizza-centric retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Fans of classic tropes found in the romantic comedies of the 2000s will certainly have something to look forward to as the official trailer for Petrie’s “Little Italy” has been released.
The film stars Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen, who act as love interests at the center of a family rivalry. Roberts plays Nikki Angioli, a chef living abroad in London who must return home to Little Italy to sort out issues with a work visa. There, she reconnects with Leo Campo (Christensen), the attractive son of the Angiolis’ pizzeria rivals.
Angioli and Campo were childhood friends, and now, as adults, the two find themselves entangled in a star-crossed romance fit for the 21st century, dealing with the fallout of their feuding families.
Alyssa Milano (Dora), Danny Aiello (Carlo), Jane Seymour (Corrine) also star in the film, alongside Andrea Martin (Franca).
“’Little Italy’ is a romantic comedy with a really big heart,” Christensen told Just Jared at the end of filming. “It’s a story about a community that loves, laughs, fights and forgives. It reminds us that love knows no boundaries.”
Roberts jumped at the chance to play Nikki when she found out that Petrie would be directing the film, according to Just Jared.
“It’s about family, it’s about food, it’s about love,” Roberts told ET Canada. “It is a romantic comedy, which I was so excited when I got the script because I love romantic comedies so much, and I feel like I don’t see them as much as I would like to.”
“Little Italy” hits Canadian theaters on August 24. It will debut in select U.S. theaters and On Demand Sept. 21.
