Photo By James A. Mahathey/Hershey
Director Mark Waters (left) with Alexandra Daddario and Heléne Yorke on the set of ‘Hershey’
A major motion picture, “Hershey,” is set for release next year, telling the rags-to-riches story of Milton S. Hershey, founder of the famed chocolate empire.
Directed by Mark Waters of “Mean Girls” fame, the film stars Finn Wittrock as Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as his wife, Catherine “Kitty” Hershey. Part love story and part business tale, the film explores how Hershey transformed chocolate into an accessible treat for the masses — though not before his first two candy ventures failed.
Shot across 17 locations in Pennsylvania, the production created 74 sets to capture the Hersheys’ world, from humble beginnings to a chocolate empire. Nearly 300 period-accurate principal costumes and more than 2,000 background costumes were crafted for the cast of 1,500 extras.
“I feel immense pride in what we’ve been able to do here, particularly in the fully committed performances of Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario, who have given their hearts and souls to portray two figures whose legacy still resonates today,” says Waters in a news release.
Hershey was born in 1857 and died in 1945, at the age of 88. His wife died in 1915, at the age of 43. Unable to have kids of their own, the couple poured their money into founding a school to help orphaned children. Hershey placed his entire fortune as well as his company into a trust to benefit that school.