Jesse Metcalfe poses with Inkitt CEO Ali Albazaz and Inkitt CIO and Co-founder of Galatea Emma Tonner
Excitement filled the air at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills earlier this month as “Keily: Homecoming Dweeb”, the first feature film from CandyJar, made its silver-screen debut. The red carpet premiere was hosted by none other than early 2000s heartthrob actor Jesse Metcalfe. The “Desperate Housewives” actor welcomed guests and introduced the film, that features a cast of rising stars including Shannon Austin-Goodin, David Kopriva, Callahan Teceno, Ella Fraley, Jolene Andersen, Elyse Mirto, and Love Island alums Johnny Middlebrook and Kyra Green.
Directed by Emily Elizabeth Thomas, the film is a heartfelt exploration of girlhood, identity, and first love.
“Returning to the Keily universe was such a joy. With Keily: Homecoming Dweeb, I wanted to expand on the ethos I established in the original series by creating a vast visual world that echoes the iconic mid-2000s rom-coms we all adore,” said Thomas. “My approach to Keily’s story, and all stories of girlhood, is to stay heightened but never hollow, blending emotional truth with grounded realism through an unapologetically feminine lens.”
The film follows a teen determined to start fresh at an elite prep school after a humiliating betrayal at her last one. But keeping a low profile proves impossible when she’s caught in a whirlwind of high school politics, messy crushes, insecurities, and resurfacing scars. As tensions rise, Keily turns to her music for clarity, unsure if the boy she’s falling for is sincere or setting her up for heartbreak.
Formerly known as GalateaTV, the short-form video app has officially rebranded to CandyJar, signaling a bold new chapter for its parent company Inkitt in growing an entertainment empire. With a new name, visual identity, and a fresh dose of flavor, CandyJar is where romance and drama collide—in bite-sized, vertical formats made for mobile.
“Users always tell me we’re their sweet escape, their indulgence, their daily treat, so we ran with it,” said Emma Tonner, Co-Founder of CandyJar. “CandyJar is for the girls who get it.”
Since its debut last year, CandyJar has skyrocketed to 3 million minutes watched per day. With 98% of users identifying as women, it’s clear the content resonates, so much so that the average viewer spends 40 minutes a day watching.
CandyJar is part of Inkitt’s story-to-screen ecosystem, alongside the Galatea reading app.
“Inkitt is generating a million dollar novel every 4 weeks and with CandyJar we’re excited to bring these bestsellers to the screen for mass appeal” said Ali Albazaz, CEO of Inkitt, CandyJar’s parent company.As a result, Inkitt generates the 11th most bestsellers of any entertainment company in the world. CandyJar is creating real career-launching opportunities for emerging writers, actors, and directors.
Follow CandyJar on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for your daily dose of drama and romance—and dive into Keily: Homecoming Dweeb now by downloading the CandyJar app from the App Store or Google Play.
