Are you ready to know the story behind one of the oldest American brands and one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world? Variety reports that Mark Waters (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday) is set to helm a Hershey film, with Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario set to star.
Wittrock will play Milton Hershey, who, alongside his wife Kitty (Daddario), built a candy empire that powered a philanthropic legacy. In 1909, Milton and Kitty founded the Hershey Industrial School, which provided free education and housing to orphans and underprivileged children. Twenty years before his death, Milton transferred the majority of his fortune into the Milton Hershey School Trust, planting the seed for one of the wealthiest educational endowments in the country.
“Against all odds, Milton achieved great success, but unlike a lot of other wealthy men of his time, he shared his success with the working people and community around him,” said Mark Waters. “The core of Hershey, the movie, will be the special love story between Milton and Catherine Hershey, who inspired his greatest legacy — the creation of Milton Hershey School. I’m excited to have Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario to portray these two visionaries, who believed in leaving the world a better place than they found it — the kind of wonderful, true story that audiences are hungry for right now.”
“Milton Hershey’s story exemplifies the American Dream,” adds Michele Buck, president and CEO of The Hershey Company. “This movie will reveal how Milton and Kitty built something far greater than a chocolate company. Their legacy extends beyond sweet treats to education, community, and opportunity for thousands. We’re proud to support a film that shares the full Hershey story — one of resilience, vision, and impact that continues to inspire today.”
Hershey will begin filming in May and is targeting a 2026 release. At the time of this reporting, no distributor is attached.
Originally published April 8, 2025. Updated April 9, 2025.
