EXCLUSIVE: Pierson Fodé (The Man from Toronto) has been tapped for a role in the upcoming film inspired by the story of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, from 20th Century Studios and Ethea Entertainment, Deadline has learned.
Like Jackson White, Fode will play a love interest of Herd’s. Others cast thus far include Myha’la and Dan Stevens.
Plot details for the film remain vague, as it’s said to be somewhat loosely inspired by Herd’s story. Famously launching the online dating platform Bumble after co-founding and departing Tinder, Herd became one of the youngest self-made billionaires at age 31, when Bumble went public in 2021. While she stepped down as CEO last year, the app continues to be hugely popular amongst the single crowd.
Still untitled, the film on Herd’s story is scheduled to enter production this year. Rachel Lee Goldenberg will direct from her script written with Bill Parker and Kim Caramele, with James producing alongside Jennifer Gibgot and Andrew Panay of Ethea. Gala Gordon will serve as executive producer, with Sarah Shepard overseeing the project for 20th Century Studios.
Previously seen in Netflix’s action comedy The Man from Toronto starring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, Fodé’s credits on the TV side include Peacock’s Based on a True Story, TNT’s Animal Kingdom, and Facebook Watch’s The Real Bros of Simi Valley, to name just a few. Currently, he has three films in post-production: the indie horror Marshmallow from producers Warner Davis and Todd M. Friedman; Christian Sesma’s actioner 72 Hours with Cam Gigandet; and the romantic thriller Dope Queens, from writer-director Grafton Doyle, which also stars Trace Lysette and Alexandra Grey.
Fodé is repped by Innovative Artists, Zero Gravity Management, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer.