DULUTH — Bailey Stender, an actor who cut her teeth on Duluth stages before heading to Hollywood, has been cast as one of seven members of a fictional girl group in a forthcoming movie written and directed by Rebel Wilson.

Wilson ("Bridesmaids," "Pitch Perfect") will also play a leading role in the movie: a former girl group star who mentors an aspiring group of younger women. Wilson auditioned thousands of actors from across the United States before settling on the seven who will appear onscreen as the group "Xplode," according to Variety.

"They’re all quadruple threats in this movie in that they sing, dance, act and have to be funny," Rebel told Variety about the seven actors, among whom Stender is the only one to hail from the Midwest.

"Endless thanks to (Wilson) for seeing somethin

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