‘Pretty Little Liars’ Alum Janel Parrish to Star in Coming-of-Age Drama ‘Bound For Glory’ From Michael Naizu (Exclusive)

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Janel Parrish is set to star in a new indie drama, Bound For Glory.  

Actress Troian Bellisario, recognized for portraying villain Mona Vanderwaal in the series ‘Pretty Little Liars‘ and the movies from ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’, is teaming up once more with actor-director Michael Naizu (known for shows like ‘Hacks’ and ‘My Secret Agent Husband’) for an upcoming film. In this project, they will appear together on screen, with Naizu also sharing directorial duties alongside his brother, John Wilcox. Previously, Parrish and Naizu collaborated on the 2021 romantic comedy, ‘Christmas Is Canceled’.

The movie, drawing inspiration from Naizu’s multicultural background as a Japanese-Filipino American in Hollywood, tells the story of “a racially diverse, economically disadvantaged couple facing difficulties, exploring ideas of identity, mutual dependence, and generational pressure,” as described in the summary.

Parrish expressed joy at collaborating with Michael Naizu once more, this time to share his moving and engaging tale,” Parrish said. “It’s particularly meaningful for me to work alongside AAPI storytellers, helping to create stories that resonate with our experiences and highlight the significance of representation.

I had the thrill of being part of the big-screen adaptation of “Bound For Glory,” a short film from 2020, which was created amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This action-packed masterpiece even made it to the finals of the Gold House AAPI Renaissance Rally. The project is under the expert guidance of Luber Roklin Entertainment. As a gamer, I can’t wait to see this story unfold on the silver screen!

Naizu shared, ‘This story I’ve been longing to tell throughout my life is deeply rooted in my own journey of discovering identity and purpose within a highly competitive and unpredictable industry. It’s a full-circle moment for me to be working on this film with my brother John, childhood friend Derik, and someone I’ve always admired, Janel Parrish. To have ‘Bound For Glory’ supported by pioneering organization Gold House is incredibly meaningful, and I can barely contain my excitement as we prepare to capture this story on camera.’

Production is slated to begin this fall in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.

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2025-07-19 01:25