Max has released a trailer for its upcoming film adaptation of John Green’s young adult novel Turtles All the Way Down.
Green’s book, published in 2017 by Dutton, follows Aza, a teenage girl who suffers from anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and her best friend Daisy, as they try to locate the missing billionaire father of Davis, a childhood friend of Aza’s.
A critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “The thin but neatly constructed plot feels a bit like an excuse for Green to flex his philosophical muscles; teenagers questioning the mysteries of consciousness can identify with Aza, while others might wish that something—anything—really happens.”
The film adaptation is directed by Hannah Marks (After Everything, Don’t Make Me Go), and stars Isabela Merced (Madame Web) as Aza, Cree Cicchino (The Sleepover) as Daisy, and Felix Mallard (Neighbours) as Davis.
The trailer begins with a voiceover from Aza, who says, “Your body is nothing but a host to a massive collection of parasitic organisms ready to cause infection, ready to cause infection, ready to cause infection. You can feel them living and breeding and dying inside of you.”
Later, Daisy teases Aza about her crush on Davis, to which Ava replies, “I can’t date anyone. You know that.” Daisy says, “I don’t know that. Why can’t you?” In another scene, Davis asks Aza, “How come it’s so easy for me to talk to you?” Aza responds, “Maybe because our hearts are broken in the same places.”
Turtles All the Way Down is set to premiere on Max on May 2.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.