BY Laura Berger
Trailer Watch: Elle Fanning Finds Her Voice in Haifaa Al-Mansour’s “Mary Shelley”
“I have a fire in my soul. And I will no longer allow you or anyone else to contain it,” says Elle Fanning in a new trailer for “Mary Shelley.” The “20th Century Women” star plays the...
SAG-AFTRA Calls for Ban on Auditions In Hotel Rooms And Residences
SAG-AFTRA has announced the first expansion of the Code of Conduct it unveiled in February. Deadline reports that the union has called for a ban on auditions in hotel rooms and residences, locations...
Weekly Update for April 13: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Films About Women Opening This Week Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (Documentary) — Directed by Sophie Fiennes (Opens in NY; Opens in LA...
Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Vicky Jones’ “Run” Gets Pilot Order from HBO
“Fleabag” creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge has yet another series in the works. Her newest show, BBC America’s “Killing Eve,” just received a second season pickup before a single...
“Broad City” to End With Season 5, Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson Sign First-Look Deal with Viacom
Ilana and Abbi’s New York City adventures are coming to a close. “Broad City’s” previously announced fifth season on Comedy Central will be its last, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. It’s...
Jessica Jones Renewed for a Third Season
We haven’t seen the last of Jessica Jones. The sardonic heroine will be returning for a third run on Netflix. The streaming giant announced the news one month after “Jessica Jones’” second...
Trailer Watch: Sandra Bullock Plans a Heist at the Met Gala in “Ocean’s 8”
Sandra Bullock is an ex-con eyeing an epic comeback in “Ocean’s 8.” The Oscar winner plays Debbie Ocean, a woman who celebrates her release from prison by plotting a hugely ambitious heist. A...
Apply Now: Firelight Media Documentary Lab Supporting Underrepresented Communities
A fellowship supporting filmmakers from racially and ethically underrepresented communities has announced a national open call for submissions. Firelight Media’s 18-month Documentary Lab program...
Isabel Coixet’s “The Bookshop” Acquired by Greenwich Entertainment, Emily Mortimer Stars
“The Bookshop” is making its way to the United States. Isabel Coixet’s award-winning drama has been acquired by Greenwich Entertainment, Deadline confirms. The Emily Mortimer-starrer screened...
Gurinder Chadha’s “Blinded By the Light” Begins Filming
Shooting is underway for Gurinder Chadha’s next feature. Deadline reports that hybrid musical “Blinded By the Light” has secured UK and Australian distribution from eOne. Based on Sarfraz...
Paloma Baeza to Direct “The Toymaker’s Secret” for TriStar Pictures
Paloma Baeza is set to make her feature directorial debut. The BAFTA winner will helm fantasy story “The Toymaker’s Secret” for TriStar Pictures. Variety broke the news. A combination of...
Melissa McCarthy to Star in and Produce Action Comedy “Super-Intelligence”
Melissa McCarthy is heading another action comedy. The “Ghostbusters” star will topline and produce New Line’s “Super-Intelligence,” The Hollywood Reporter confirms. Slated to begin...
Leslie Hope to Make Feature Directorial Debut with Rom-Com “The Swearing Jar”
Leslie Hope is stepping behind the camera for “The Swearing Jar.” The “24” alumna will helm the indie romantic comedy, marking her feature directorial debut, The Hollywood Reporter...
Laura Dern Sundance Breakout “The Tale” Gets Premiere Date and Teaser from HBO
“The Tale” made a major mark at Sundance earlier this year, and now Jennifer Fox’s acclaimed narrative debut is prepping for its HBO premiere. The Laura Dern-starrer has received an air date...
Trailer Watch: Glenn Close Is Fed Up with Being Defined as “The Wife”
“Don’t paint me as the victim. I’m much more interesting than that,” says Glenn Close in a new trailer for “The Wife.” An adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s 2003 novel of the same name, the...
Christina Hodson to Write “Batgirl” Movie
Two months after Joss Whedon exited the project, “Batgirl” has found a new writer. “Unforgettable” scribe Christina Hodson has signed on to pen the Warner Bros. film based on the beloved DC...
Ellen Shanman to Adapt Sci-Fi Assassin Thriller “The Hidden Girl”
Ellen Shanman has been tapped to pen “The Hidden Girl” for Studio 8. Inspired by an ancient Chinese myth and a short story by Ken Liu, the sci-fi pic follows “a team of women assassins who are...
Rosemary Rodriguez to Direct “Grandma’s Shoes from Poland”
Rosemary Rodriguez just signed on to direct the pilot of CBS’ “Cagney and Lacey” reboot, and now Deadline reports that she’ll helm “Grandma’s Shoes from Poland,” a new feature. Set in...
“Mom” Renewed for Season 6. Will The Show Bring on More Female Directors?
We haven’t seen the last of Christy and Bonnie Plunkett. The mother-daughter duo are set to return for a sixth season on “Mom,” The Hollywood reporter confirms. Anna Farris and recent Oscar...
Issa López to Make English-Language Debut with “Three Sundays”
Award-winning Mexican writer-director Issa López is set to make her English-language debut with Paramount Players’ love story “Three Sundays.” The Hollywood Reporter broke the news. Penned...
Tiffany Haddish to Exec Produce HBO Comedy Examining Female Blackness, Beauty, and Identity
After signing a first-look deal with HBO in January, “Girls Trip” breakout Tiffany Haddish has set up her first project with the premium cable network. The stand-up comedian will executive...
Liz Feldman’s “Dead To Me” Gets Series Order from Netflix
Liz Feldman’s latest project has landed at Netflix. The streamer gave a series order to dark comedy “Dead To Me” in a “competitive situation,” Deadline reports. Centering on an unlikely...
Lorena Bobbitt Docuseries in the Works at Amazon
“Get Out” writer-director Jordan Peele is set to revisit one of the most sensational trials in U.S. history. His Monkeypaw shingle has a Lorena Bobbitt docuseries in development at Amazon, The...
Trailer Watch: Lauren Greenfield Explores a Shift in the American Dream in “Generation Wealth”
“I’ve been a photographer for 25 years. With my lens focused on wealth, I noticed that no matter how much people had they still want more,” says Lauren Greenfield in a trailer for...
“Radium Girls” to Make Its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival will host the world premiere of “Radium Girls,” a press release has announced. Set in the early 20th century, the drama follows two female employees of the U.S. Radium...
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Killing Eve” Gets Second Season Pickup Before Series Premiere
BBC America has yet to air a single episode of “Killing Eve,” but the network is clearly expecting good things from the show: Days before its series premiere, the new thriller from...
Quote of the Day: Zoe Saldana Doesn’t Want to Be a Muse
Zoe Saldana’s first blockbuster grossed over $654 million worldwide, but filming 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” was far from a Hollywood dream come true for...
Trailer Watch: BFFs Reconnect to Tackle a Bucket List in Elissa Down’s “The Honor List”
A tragic death brings former BFFs back together in a new trailer for Elissa Down’s “The Honor List.” Piper (Meghan Rienks, “Freakish”), Sophie (Karrueche Tran, “Claws”), Isabella...
Kathryn Hahn and Nicole Holofcener Team Up for HBO Pilot “Mrs. Fletcher”
Kathryn Hahn has signed on to star in another small screen adaptation of a novel. The “I Love Dick” actress will topline half-hour comedy series “Mrs. Fletcher” for HBO, The Hollywood...
“Frozen” Breaks Record on Broadway
Anna and Elsa’s story took in over $1.2 billion on the big screen, and now the “Frozen” sisters are making a major mark on Broadway. Disney Theatricals’ adaptation of the pic “shattered...
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” Returning for Fourth and Final Season
Some bittersweet news for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” fans: Rachel Bloom and co. will be returning to West Covina for a fourth season, but it’ll mark the final installment of the critically...
Full Frame 2018 Women Directors: Meet Veena Rao — “Rebuilding in Miniature”
Veena Rao’s work has been featured on The New York Times Op-Docs, The Atlantic, and National Geographic. A member of Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective, her previous credits include “Mumbai...
IDA Announces Recipients of Inaugural Grants for Women Filmmakers of Color
Jacqueline Olive’s “Always in Season” and Loira Limbal’s “Through the Night” are the the inaugural recipients of the IDA Elevate Grant, a press release has announced. Awarded to emerging...
Isabelle Fuhrman to Topline Deborah Kampmeier Drama About a Predatory Producer
“Hunger Games” alumna Isabelle Fuhrman has signed on to star in “Tape,” a timely indie drama sure to be associated with the #MeToo movement. Written and directed by Deborah Kampmeier and...
“A League of Their Own” Series from Abbi Jacobson in Development at Amazon
The Rockford Peaches are eyeing a return to the field. A series inspired by “A League of Their Own” is in development at Amazon, according to Variety. Reportedly “not a close adaptation” of...
Trailer Watch: The Hunters Become the Hunted in Coralie Fargeat’s “Revenge”
Described by writer-director Coralie Fargeat as “a revenge movie somewhere between ‘Kill Bill’ and Lara Croft,” “Revenge” sees a woman going on vacation to a remote desert villa with her...
Inclusion Rider Co-Creator Stacy Smith to Deliver Keynote at Women’s Media Summit
A number of activists leading the fight for gender equality in Hollywood are slated to attend the second annual Women’s Media Summit. Set to take place April 5–7 in Provincetown, MA, the event...
Sony and EbonyLife Team Up for Female-Led African Warrior Series
Another story about the Dahomey Warriors is in the works. Nigeria-based production company and TV network EbonyLife has signed a three-series deal with Sony, and the first project will be an action...
“Chewing Gum’s” Michaela Coel to Deliver Prestigious Lecture at Edinburgh TV Fest
“Chewing Gum” creator, writer, and star Michaela Coel has been invited to give the MacTaggart lecture at this year’s Edinburgh International Television Festival. She’ll become the fifth...
Tribeca Film Fest Adds Day-Long #TimesUp Event
Herstory is being made at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. The fest is set to host #TimesUp’s inaugural New York event, Deadline reports. The day-long program will feature conversations with the...
Shorts From Project HER Incubator Program Unveiled
A Snugglr and a prison guard are just a couple of the characters tackled by newly released shorts from Conde Nast Entertainment and Indigenous Media’s Project HER incubator program. Designed with...
Gay Conversion Drama “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” Acquired by FilmRise
Sundance winner “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” has found a home. FilmRise snagged North American rights to the Chloë Grace Moretz-starrer, Deadline reports. The LGBTQ coming-of-age drama...
Trailer Watch: A Pop Icon Takes Risks in “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami”
“The performer takes the risk,” says Grace Jones in a new trailer for “Bloodlight and Bami.” The pop diva explains, “It’s a lonely place — it’s a fascinating, lonely place.”...
Margot Robbie to Produce Female-Led Shakespearean Drama Series
Love William Shakespeare’s plays but wish characters like Lady Macbeth, Ophelia, and Goneril and Regan were more fully developed? Margot Robbie seems to be on the same page — the...
Exclusive: Hasidic Women Form NYC’s First All-Female Volunteer Ambulance Corps in “93Queen” Trailer
“In the Hasidic community there’s a huge divide between the genders,” explains Rachel “Ruchie” Freier in our exclusive trailer for “93Queen.” “I’m being told that it’s not right...
“Madam Secretary” Creator Barbara Hall Signs Overall Deal With CBS TV Studios
Barbara Hall is staying put at CBS, the network behind “Madam Secretary.” The political drama’s creator and showrunner has signed a new overall deal with CBS Television Studios, Variety...
Susan Johnson’s Adaptation of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” Goes to Netflix
YA favorite “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is coming to Netflix. A press release announced that the streamer has acquired global rights to Susan Johnson’s adaptation of Jenny Han’s...
Alia Shawkat and Holliday Grainger to Topline Sophie Hyde’s “Animals”
“Animals” is inching closer towards the big screen. Alia Shawkat (“Search Party”) and Holliday Grainger (“Tulip Fever”) have been cast in Sophie Hyde’s adaptation of Emma Jane...
Natalia Almada’s “Everything Else” Acquired by Cinema Tropical
Natalia Almada’s narrative debut has secured U.S. distribution. Cinema Tropical snagged the rights to “Everything Else,” a press release announced. After making its world premiere at the 2016...
Amy Poehler Is Making Her Feature Directorial Debut with “Wine Country”
Amy Poehler is directing her first movie and taking plenty of “SNL” friends along on the vino-filled journey. Variety reports that the “Parks and Recreation” alumna will helm, produce, and...
Hot Docs 2018 Program Is 50 Percent Women-Directed
North America’s largest documentary festival has announced its 2018 slate, and this year’s edition of Hot Docs marks a major milestone. Eighty-six of 171 features screening are directed or...