As the classic theme song tells us, Jem is not only truly outrageous, but her music is contagious — and also there’s glamour and glitter, fashion and fame. You can see some of that courtesy of the first official photos from Jon M. Chu’s live-action version of Jem and the Holograms. And while there are some colorful images and some glittery rock star fashion, there are also a few more subdued photos, which aren’t all that exciting.

The first photos (above) from Jem and the Holograms debuted over at USA Today, where Chu (who also directed the second and third Step Up movies, as well as G.I. Joe: Retaliation) spoke about the film’s plot and some of its themes. The movie focuses on Jerrica Benton (Aubrey Peeples), a young woman who is shy about fame and singing in front of people after the death of her dad — it was her father who encouraged her music career and called her “Jem.”

But the film isn’t just about Jerrica/Jem. Chu explains that the “real soul of the movie” is “actually about a group of young people who are going to be inundated with this idea of fame and fortune and products and stuff, and within all that, how do you stay true to who you really are?”

Much of the film focuses on the idea of fame, with Jerrica using her Jem alter ego to give herself confidence, while also allowing her some sense of privacy. Chu also says that social media plays a huge part in Jem and the Holograms, as the leading lady struggles with keeping herself separate from her rock star persona — “How can you even have a secret identity with all this social media?” Chu asks.

The new photos from the film showcase some of the glittery performances, but there are also a few less-vivid and sort of somber-looking photos, indicating that the only real glamour and glitter, fashion and fame we’ll get is when Jem and her Holograms are on stage.

Jem and the Holograms also stars Stefanie Scott as Jem’s sister Kimber, with Aurora Perrineau and Hayley Kiyoko as her foster sisters, Shana and Aja. Molly Ringwald plays Jem’s Aunt Bailey, Ryan Guzman stars as Jem’s love interest Rio, and Juliette Lewis plays antagonist Erica Raymond. And yes, you can also expect appearances from the Misfits (their songs are better).

Jem and the Holograms hits theaters on October 23.

 

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