Vanessa Hudgens has joined ‘Second Act’.
The 28-year-old star will appear alongside Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini in the romantic comedy movie, and the ‘Spring Breakers’ actress will portray a young consumer goods company executive called Zoe.
Lopez confirmed the news by posting a picture of herself with Hudgens and wrote on Instagram: "Look who else is joining me in #SecondAct…
@vanessahudgens (sic)"
The singer-and-actress will portray a woman who works in a big store and gets the opportunity to prove to a huge ad agency that her knowledge and experience is just as valuable as anyone with a college degree.
Remini will take on the role of Lopez’s character’s best friend and colleague.
Peter Segal will direct the motion picture from a script written by Justin Zackham and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.
The writing pair will co-produce the movie alongside Lopez and Benny Medina.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project was developed specifically for Lopez – the daughter of Puerto Rican parents Guadalupe Rodríguez and David Lopez – who recently insisted it is still a "struggle" for women to be offered "meaty roles".
The ‘Shades of Blue’ star – who played the role of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in ‘Selena’ – said: "[‘Selena’] was a meaty role, but it was few and far between, especially for Latinos to have a role like that.
"I think it’s still challenging for women, especially being Latina. Thinking about ‘Selena’ 20 years ago and to have a role like that, I was very lucky. I was very fortunate. But it’s still a struggle for women.
"It’s pretty amazing what it’s grown into. I don’t take it for granted. I’m very fortunate."