It looks like Jennifer Aniston will star in another woman-directed film. The “Friends” actress is in talks with STXfilms to topline an untitled comedy from writer-director Sophie Goodhart, Deadline reports. Earlier this year Aniston signed on to star in Anne Fletcher’s indie teen comedy “Dumplin’” alongside Danielle Macdonald (“Patti Cake$”).
Goodhart’s upcoming comedy centers on “an over-scheduled and over-burdened suburban couple” desperately trying to rediscover their youth. The project is being produced by Safehouse Pictures’ Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell. Matt Schwartz and Douglas Banker will serve as EPs.
Aniston will portray a former beauty queen in “Dumplin’,” whose daughter (MacDonald) enters a beauty pageant to build up her self-confidence and gain her mother’s respect. Deadline writes that Odeya Rush (“Goosebumps”) has also joined the film. She will play MacDonald’s best friend and pageant competitor.
Also on the docket for Aniston is an untitled series set in the world of morning talk shows and the wider New York media scene. She will star and exec produce the show with Reese Witherspoon.
“The objectification and scrutiny we put women through is absurd and disturbing. The way I am portrayed by the media is simply a reflection of how we see and portray women in general, measured against some warped standard of beauty,” Aniston has written. “Sometimes cultural standards just need a different perspective so we can see them for what they really are — a collective acceptance… a subconscious agreement.”
“We are in charge of our agreement,” she added. “Little girls everywhere are absorbing our agreement, passive or otherwise.”
Goodhart made her feature directorial debut with the family comedy “My Blind Brother,” starring Jenny Slate, Adam Scott, and Nick Kroll. The story about a man who resents his vision-impaired brother premiered at Sundance 2016 and hit theaters last September.
