Candy tycoon biopic 'Hershey' to film in Pittsburgh

Something sweet is brewing in Pittsburgh over the next few months. The movie “Hershey,” which tells the story of chocolate magnate Milton Hershey and his wife, will film across Pennsylvania, including in Pittsburgh.

Variety reported that the movie will star Finn Witrock (“All My Children,” “American Horror Story”) and Alexandria Daddario (the “Percy Jackson” films, “The White Lotus”). The director is Mark Waters, whose credits include 2004’s “Mean Girls” and, more recently, 2021’s “He’s All That.”

While production will begin next month, there’s no firm date for when “Hershey” will make its sweet stop in the Pittsburgh area. The film is expected to be released in 2026.

The Pittsburgh Film Office confirmed filming in the region.

“The PFO is thrilled to welcome ‘Hershey’ to the Southwestern Pa. area,” said Dawn Keezer, executive director of the Pittsburgh Film Office. “It’s going to be great to help tell the story of such an important and iconic figure of both Pennslyvania and world history.”

Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine “Kitty” (whom Daddario will portray in the film), sold their first Hershey bars in the year 1900 and found enough success to build Hershey, their own company town, in Dauphin County.

The town includes the Milton Hershey School — formerly known as the Hershey Industrial School — which was founded in 1909 by the husband and wife. The school exists to this day, providing education to orphans and children of underprivileged families, with an enrollment of about 2,000 students.

Most of Hershey’s fortune went to endowing the school, making it the wealthiest private K-12 school in the country. In 2021, its endowment was valued at more than $17 billion.

According to Waters, the film will primarily focus on the love story between Milton and Catherine and the inception of the Hershey Industrial School.

Keezer is excited to show this production what Pittsburgh’s film industry can do.

“We know our amazingly skilled crew, along with our experienced vendors, combined with the great diversity of locations, will combine to make this another successful film production in Southwestern Pa.,” she said.

She said that production offices have already been opened and the film has a locations team, though specific shooting spots in the area have not yet been chosen.

“They’re going full speed ahead to get this movie started,” Keezer said.

She noted that the region has hosted more than 200 film projects, with an economic impact of $2.5 billion. More than 5,000 professionals work in the regional film industry.