EXCLUSIVE: Primetime Emmy nominee Leslie Bibb is set to star in Upgraded 2 from director Becca Gleason alongside previously announced returning star and producer Camila Mendes.
Luke Roberts and Justin Matthews, who penned the first film, wrote the screenplay. Story details are under wraps. The first movie starred Mendes as Ana, an ambitious intern at an art auction house in New York City. She misrepresents herself to a handsome wealthy man as the director. As their romance develops, her deception creates challenges that threaten her career and relationship.
The sequel is financed by Gulfstream financed. The film begins production this month in Italy. Amazon MGM Studios landed worldwide distribution rights for the sequel, which will be available in more than 240 countries and territories on Prime Video.
Producers include Gulfstream Pictures’ Mike Karz and Bill Bindley, Honor Role’s Mendes and Rachel Matthews, Luber Roklin Entertainment’s Lena Roklin, and Tempo Production’s Piers Tempest.
Bibb most recently guest starred in season 5 of HBO’s Hacks opposite Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Monica in the finale season. The actress also returned for the second season of Apple TV+’s Emmy-nominated Palm Royale alongside Kristin Wiig, Alison Janney, and Laura Dern. Last year, Bibb starred in season 3 of Mike White’s HBO drama The White Lotus and the ensemble earned a 2026 Actor Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. It was recently announced that Bibb will star in and executive produce the dark comedy series The Rush Whisperer for HBO. Also upcoming, she will star in Brett Goldstein’s romantic comedy series Escorted for Prime Video opposite Goldstein and Lesley Manville. Additional previous television credits include Netflix’s original comedy God’s Favorite Idiot, Netflix’s superhero series Jupiter’s Legacy, ABC’s dramedy GCB, ABC’s American Housewife, TV Land’s Nobodies, NBC’s Crossing Jordan, the 9th season of NBC’s ER. Previous film credits include Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2; Lionsgate’s About My Father; The Lost Husband, which she also produced; Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby; Iron Man and Iron Man 2; Warner Bros’ comedy Tag; Netflix’s To The Bone; Jared Hess’ Don Verdeen; No Good Deed; Hell Baby; Sony’s Zookeeper; Take Care; Confessions Of A Shopaholic; Law Abiding Citizen, A Good Old Fashioned Orgy; and Miss Nobody. The actress is represented by UTA, LBI, and JSSK.