'Dancing With the Stars' Ex-Judge Julianne Hough Nabs Role in 'Bigger'
"Dancing With the Stars" ex-judge Julianne Hough is heading for the big screen. She's set to star in the movie "Bigger," which will begin production in October.
Hough will play Betty Brosmer Weidner on "Bigger," one of the owners of the fitness and health magazine Shape. She started as a pin-up model who became an inspiration for women when it came to diet and physical health.
The fitness icon married Joe Weidner, who created the Mr. Olympia body fitness competition along with his brother Ben Weidner. "Bigger" will actually center on Ben and Joe's life, who survived the Great Depression and built an athletic empire as well as a publishing arm.
Interestingly, Hough graced the cover of Shape a total of four times.
George Gallo ("Bad Boys") will direct the movie that will also star Tyler Hoechlin ("Everybody Wants Some"), Aneurin Barnard ("Dunkirk") and Kevin Durand ("The Strain"). Andy Weiss wrote the screenplay for "Bigger" with Brad & Ellen Furman.
In early September, Hough announced that she won't be returning as judge or performer on "Dancing With the Stars" season 25. The decision apparently surprised people close to the dancer and actress who thought she left because of her new husband, Brooks Laich, whom she married over the summer.
"It has nothing to do with her husband's schedule. She is so not that person," a source from the actress' camp said. "She would never ever sacrifice her career for her husband."
There's no bad blood between Hough and the producers of "Dancing With the Stars," hence she could return to the show in the near future. For now, however, Hough would like to pursue other projects and boost her acting resume despite the stability on DWTS.
Hough's other acting credits include playing the lead in FOX's "Grease! Live" production in 2016. She also starred in "Safe Haven" (2013) and the remake of "Footloose" (2011).
