Studio71 Adapting YA Novel ‘Saving Zoë’ Into Feature Starring Laura, Vanessa Marano

Studio71 has completed principal photography on a feature film entitled Saving Zoë — an adaptation of the hit young adult novel by Alyson Noël.

The New York Times best seller tells the story of a high school freshman named Echo, who is determined to solve the mystery of her sister Zoë’s murder using diary entries left behind. The film stars real-life sisters Laura (War With Grandpa) and Vanessa Marano (Switched At Birth), as well as Giorgia Whigham (13 Reasons Why), Chris Tavarez (Big Momma’s House 2), and Nathaniel Bucolic (Hacksaw Ridge).

The script was penned by LeeAnne Adams and Brian Adams, and was directed by Jeffrey Hunt (Vampire Diaries). The Marano sisters — as well as their mother, Ellen — are producing the film alongside Hunt.

“Echo’s quest for truth becomes a cautionary tale of bad decisions and their inevitable consequences,” said Michael Schreiber, head of scripted content at Studio71, a top multi-channel network. “We are inundated with escapism entertainment, and, [with Saving Zoë], we wanted to create opportunities for younger audiences to have compelling stories that mean something to them on a personal and relatable level.”

At its NewFronts presentation in May, Studio71 announced a slew of original projects — most of which will live on the channels of its networks’ stars, including Lilly Singh, Rhett & Link, and Family Fun Pack. The company is also set to premiere a series called Lifeline on YouTube Red.