Bella Thorne has a new directive…

The 26-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer will make her feature directorial debut with Color Your Hurt, the true story of a young gay man growing up in the Bible Belt.

Thorne has started the casting process on the project, which is based on her original screenplay and a short film she has made called Unsettled, which is in post-production.

Filming is being lined up for the Midwest and Italy in spring of this year.

The Midnight Sun and Babysitter actress made Unsettled in June 2023 (around the same time her short film Paint Her Red debuted at the Taormina Film Festival) with producers Jen Gatien and Eddie Alcazar. It was edited by Ron Dulin with additional editing from Alfonso Gonçalves.

Gatien will produce Color Your Hurt along with David Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. of Latigo Films, Dani Druz and Mark Emms, with Adam Sigal and actor CG Lewis serving as executive producers.

Previously, Thorne worked with Sigal, Druz and Lipper and Daly on The Tower, currently in post-production, Gatien on Midnight Sun, and Alcazar on Divinity, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival last year.

“Color Your Hurt is not just a screenplay; it’s one of the most inspiring projects I’ve ever penned. As I step into my new role as a movie director, it symbolizes the beginning of a truly impactful and exhilarating chapter in my career. I could not be more honored to tell a true story that has moments I deeply connect with,” said Thorne.

“Bella is remarkably talented, and Bob Daly and I want to support her vision in what is a very important story that needs to be told,” added Lipper.

Thorne, who has also released music, in 2019 directed adult short film Her & Him.