Summary

• Romantic drama "Turtles All the Way Down" brings to life Aza Holmes' struggle with OCD and budding romance.
• Isabela Merced shines as Aza, with Cree's Daisy adding heart to the film's coming-of-age story.
• The film explores themes of love, friendship, and mental health, offering a compelling and emotional journey.

Directed by Hannah Marks (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency), Turtles All the Way Down adapts John Green's bestselling 2017 young adult novel of the same name. Like Green's other works, which include books-turned-movies like The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down is a romantic drama. Both the film and novel center on Aza Holmes, a 16-year-old character who is still learning to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In particular, Aza finds it difficult to navigate her obsessive thinking — inescapable thought spirals that are often triggered by thoughts of microorganisms or germs.

...[Aza and Davis] are instantly drawn back into each other's orbit.

One day, Aza and her best friend, the Star Wars-loving fanfiction writer Daisy, learn that billionaire Russell Pickett has disappeared. It just so happens that Aza met Russell's son, Davis, at a grief camp for kids. Although they haven't seen each other in years, the two are instantly drawn back into each other's orbit. Constantly worried about the looming threat of infection, and still plagued by the loss of her father, Aza has trouble pursuing romance — until a TED Talk speaker she loves clues her in to the titular "turtles all the way down" metaphor.

Isabela Merced As Aza Holmes

Date Of Birth: July 10, 2001

• Active Since: 2013

Actor: Isabela Merced, who was previously credited in early roles as Isabela Moner, hit it big when playing the titular character in 2019's Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Before then, she appeared in Transformers: The Last Knight, Instant Family, and Sicario: Day of the Soldado. The actor has also appeared in Let It Snow, Rosaline, the remake of Father of the Bride, Migration, Maya and the Three, and Madame Web. Additionally, Turtles' Merced will star in 2025's Superman as well as Alien: Romulus and season 2 of HBO's The Last of Us.

Character: Director Hannah Marks' adaptation of John Green's Turtles wouldn't work as well as it does without Merced's compelling central performance. Feeling at war with her own mind — and her thought spirals — Aza has a very particular way of going about the world. Aza doesn't enjoy anything new or unknown, and she is often ruminating on all the possible germs and infections that could cause her harm. Bolstered by her mother and her friends, Aza is able to navigate her OCD, though it becomes increasingly difficult as she tries to pursue her long-time crush.

Cree As Daisy Ramirez

Date Of Birth: May 9, 2002

• Active Since: 2015

Actor: After getting her start on the Nickelodeon comedy television series Game Shakers, Cree landed roles in Mr. Iglesias, The Sleepover, and even And Just Like That..., the sequel to HBO's Sex and the City.

Character: A real emotional anchor in the coming-of-age movie Turtles All the Way Down, Cicchino's Daisy has a somewhat fraught relationship with Aza. On the surface, Daisy is a ive best friend who understands Aza's compulsions, obsessions, and various symptoms. However, she also feels weighed down by life. Eager to reap the $100,000 reward that comes with finding Davis' father, Daisy encourages Aza to come along for the ride — and, later, pursue a romance with Davis. Warm, boisterous, and incredibly funny, Cicchino's character is the heart of the film.

Felix Mallard As Davis Pickett

Date Of Birth: April 20, 1998

• Active Since: 2014

Actor: Like many Australian actors, Felix Mallard got his start on the Aussie soap opera Neighbours. In the States, he's best known for recurring roles in the Netflix shows Locke & Key and Ginny & Georgia. He has also appeared in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Happy Together, and All the Bright Places.

Character:​​​​​​​ The charming Davis Pickett is the son of a missing billionaire who intends to leave his fortune to a research project. Feeling like he can't stand apart from his father's name or legacy, Davis pours his feelings into a blog and, later, makes sweeping romantic gestures in an effort to help Aza pursue her collegiate dreams.

Judy Reyes As Gina Holmes

Date Of Birth: November 5, 1967

• Active Since: 1992

Actor: Actor, writer, and producer Judy Reyes is most well known for her Scrubs character, Carla Espinosa, though she has made waves more recently in the comedy-drama show Devious Maids. The accomplished TV star has also had notable roles in films, including Smile and Birth/Rebirth.

Character:​​​​​​​ Aza's mother, Gina Holmes, is still impacted by the loss of her husband and Aza's father. After that harrowing and sudden loss, Gina sent a young Aza to grief camp, which is where she met Davis. A teacher at Aza's school, Gina wants to be involved and protective, which sometimes gets under Aza's skin.

Maliq Johnson As Mychal Turner

Date Of Birth: June 22, 2000

• Active Since: 2013

Actor: Best known for starring in the Netflix shows Grand Army and When They See Us, Maliq Johnson has also appeared in feature films like Little Boxes, Little Men, and Knucklehead.

Character:​​​​​​​ One of Aza's best friends, Mychal is an inventive artist and an eccentric personality. As the movie unfolds, he reveals that he has a long-time crush on Daisy, though is hesitant to act on it for fear of upending the trio's friendship.

J. Smith-Cameron As Professor Abbott

Date Of Birth: September 7, 1957

• Active Since: 1979

Actor: After making her Broadway debut in the 1982 play Crimes of the Heart, the Tony Award-winning J. Smith-Cameron went on to make a name for herself in the world of theater. In addition to film roles like Nancy, the actor has appeared in several big-name TV shows, including True Blood, Search Party, and Succession — the latter of which earned her two Emmy Award nominations.

Character:​​​​​​​ A professor living in Chicago, Abbott is someone Aza ires from afar. Professor Abbott's TED Talk centers on philosophical ideas, and it's these notions that help Aza understand and navigate the symptoms and thought patterns of her OCD.

Poorna Jagannathan As Dr. Singh

Date Of Birth: December 22, 1972

• Active Since: 2004

Actor: Best known for her work in the drama miniseries The Night Of and Netflix's teen comedy Never Have I Ever, Poorna Jagannathan is a producer and actor who is able to move between genres with ease. In addition to her ongoing work in film, Jagannathan has had recurring parts on several TV shows, including Big Little Lies, Better Call Saul, and Ramy.

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Character:​​​​​​​ Dr. Singh is Aza's encouraging therapist who crops up throughout the film to help track Aza's relationship to her OCD. Insistent that Aza should take her medication regularly, Dr. Singh fills a similar role to Aza's mother.

Hannah Marks As Holly

Date Of Birth: April 13, 1993

• Active Since: 2005

Actor: After appearing in the 2006 feature film Accepted, actor-turned-director Hannah Marks went on to guest star on a variety of TV shows, including Weeds and Ugly Betty. Dubbed one of the artists under 25 who's apt to change the world by Rolling Stone, Marks eventually starred in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and went on to write and direct films, including Don't Make Me Go.

Character: Although Hannah Marks directs Turtles All the Way Down, she also has a small role as a character named Holly.

Turtles All the Way Down premieres on Max on May 2, 2024.