Demi Lovato to direct Child Star documentary featuring former Disney co-stars
The jaw-dropping documentary will explore the dizzying heights and devastating lows of child stardom - something pop sensation Demi Lovato Lovato is all too familiar with
Demi Lovato is to make her directorial debut with a documentary about child stardom.
A former child star themselves, Demi shot to fame on the Disney channel - while Disney also owns Hulu. Child Star is set to examine the dizzying heights and devastating lows of growing up in the spotlight, as per Hollywood Reporter. Lovato's past has been the subject of other docu-series, while this time the film will focus on Lovato's conversations with other child stars.
Drew Barrymore, Nickelodeon star Kenan Thompson and The Addams Family's Christina Ricci are participating in the documentary. Disney's Raven-Symoné, former Dance Moms star Jojo Siwa and Lovato's Camp Rock co-star Alyson Stoner will also feature.
Lovato told Hollywood Reporter: “I’m so proud to make my directorial debut with this documentary that sheds light on the complexities of child stardom, a topic that is very close to my heart. I want to thank our cast for being so vulnerable with their stories and our contributors for sharing their knowledge to help push the conversation forward.
"I hope viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and pressures faced by young people in the industry so we can achieve our goal of creating a safer and more supportive environment for future generations young talents in entertainment, social media and beyond.”
Nicola Marsh, who was behind Netflix’s Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story, serves as co-director for Child Star. She said of the project: “It was a real peek of what it was like to handle meteoric fame in childhood and all the pressures that come along with that. It looks so fun and glamorous on the outside but actually it’s really challenging to be forming your identity as a kid while also commodifying yourself.”
OBB Media founder and CEO Michael D. Ratner, who directed and produced Lovato’s last docu-series, 2021’s Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, is onboard, along with Scott Ratner, Miranda Sherman, Kfir Goldberg and Lovato. It’s executive produced by Marsh, SB’s Scooter Braun, Scott Manson, Jen McDaniels and James Shin, with Glenn Stickley as a co-executive producer.
Ratner, whose previous documentaries include 2024's The Kid Laroi film Kids Are Growing Up and Justin Bieber's Seasons, said: “We’re so grateful to Hulu for giving this project a platform, and to all the child stars who participated in this project and helped us pull back the curtain of this world.
"Without their vulnerability and trust we wouldn’t have been able to tell this story. We’re fortunate that OBB and Demi have had a long-standing partnership, and we’re exceptionally proud to be the producers behind her directorial debut. Demi and Nicola Marsh co-directed an incredible film that shines a light on an important issue, and our hope is that this film will positively affect the next generation of kids working in this evolving media landscape.”
Child Star will debut on Hulu on September 17.