Two decades after Jack Black met former child star Rivkah Reyes while working on School of Rock, the two will reunite for a new project. Deadline reports that Black has joined the production of Gianna, a short film that stars Reyes in the lead role. Black will be serving as an associate producer, while Reyes is also producing the film. Kait Schuster directed the short, which was also written by Reyes. Jarad Schwartz and Brando Crawford serve as executive producers.
There's no indication that Black appears in the film. Other cast members on the short besides Reyes include Margaret Cho (Fire Island) and Elizabeth Faith Ludlow (Peacemaker). Per the report, Gianna stars Reyes as Gina, someone who's newly sober and recently single and "faced with the literal devil herself, after her sliding-scale therapist (Cho) suggests spending time with her inner demons."
Of her involvement in the film, Cho said, “I loved the perfectly twisted queerness of the story and script and I had to get involved. Rivkah is The Gay Future!!!!!”
You can see a sneak peek image from the short below.
Gianna premiered at the Inside Out Festival in Toronto. School of Rock was also screened at the festival, presented by Reyes. She noted on Instagram that she was excited to return to Toronto as School of Rock has also premiered in the city at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2003. She also said how happy she was that the short could be premiered on the first day of Pride Month. Meanwhile, Gianna is next set to be screened at the Palm Springs Shorts Festival, which takes place from June 21-27.
Jack Black Will See Rivkah Reyes Again Very Soon
This year marks the 20th anniversary of School of Rock, which premiered in movie theaters on Oct. 3, 2003. The hit comedy stars Black as a wannabe musician who pretends to be a substitute teacher for some quick cash, going on to form a band with the students of his class. It was announced earlier this year that Black will join many of the cast members from the film for a 20th anniversary reunion.
"All those kids -- dig this -- they were 10 years old when we made that movie and now they're all, like, 30," Black told Entertainment Tonight, promising that he'll be sharing images of the event when it happens. "We're gonna get together and have a 20-year anniversary. We like to jam. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the grownups from School of Rock."
Most of the other cast members are expected to be in attendance with Black and Reyes. Other stars from the movie include Miranda Cosgrove, Joey Gaydos Jr., Robert Tsai, Maryam Hassan, Aleisha Allen, Caitlin Hale, Brian Falduto, Z Infante, James Hosey, Angelo Massagli, and Cole Hawkins. Kevin Clark, who played the drummer, passed away in 2021 after an automobile accident.
You can find School of Rock streaming on Paramount+.