Red Sage Studios, the YA-focused company founded by former Amazon MGM Studios International head James Farrell, and Sun Distribution (Telefilms Group) have added an exciting new project to their slate: an adaptation of the Gordon Korman novel Son of the Mob.

Son of the Mob is a romantic comedy following Vince, the teenage son of a mob boss who longs for a normal life but can’t escape his family’s criminal ties. When he falls for the daughter of the FBI agent investigating his family, his worlds collide in increasingly comedic fashion.

The project will be directed and produced by Vince Marcello, who is best known for directing Netflix’s hit YA trilogy The Kissing Booth starring Joey King. Marcello will be working from a script written with Jay Arnold, who collaborated with him on the two Kissing Booth sequels.

Marcello expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I was laughing from the opening scene. Being Italian American myself, I could immediately visualize these characters, and I was in from the moment James shared the project with me.”

The production is slated to take place in Canada, with Vancouver-based Brightlight Pictures on board. The film will be an adaptation of Gordon Korman’s novel of the same name, which follows the story of a teenage boy caught between his family’s criminal activities and his desire for a normal life.

Marcello’s previous work on The Kissing Booth trilogy has been highly successful, with the films generating significant viewership numbers. According to Nielsen, the first film set a rewatch rate record, with nearly 50% of viewers watching the film more than once. The second film generated 209.2 million viewing hours in its first 28 days, while the third film notched 451M viewing minutes in its first week.

Red Sage Studios has been making waves in the YA film industry, partnering with Sun Distribution on several projects, including an adaptation of Jessica Cunsolo’s YA bestseller She’s with Me from Culpa Mía’s Domingo González. Other projects on the studio’s slate include The Bridge Kingdom and Let’s Play.

Marcello is represented by The Gotham Group, IAG, and Davis Law Group, while Korman is repped by WME and Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown NY. Red Sage Studios is with CAA.

The announcement of Son of the Mob comes on the heels of the success of Red Sage Studios and Sun Distribution’s partnership on several projects, including the adaptation of She’s with Me. With Marcello at the helm and a talented team behind him, this project is sure to be a hit with YA fans.

The film is expected to be a hilarious and heartwarming exploration of the complexities of family, loyalty, and identity. With its talented cast and crew, Son of the Mob is shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of YA rom-coms.