BY Rachel Montpelier
Trailer Watch: Ry Russo-Young Turns the Camera on Her Own “Nuclear Family”
“Two same-sex parents and children — I don’t think anybody even thought that that happened.” So says one of the interviewees in Ry Russo-Young’s “Nuclear...
Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel to Star in Fox Country Music Drama from Melissa London Hilfers
Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel are taking over the country music scene — on the small screen, anyway. The pair will star as country royalty in “Monarch,” a Fox drama created by...
Variety’s 2021 Power of Women: LA Honorees Include Rita Moreno, Lorde, and Amanda Gorman
Rita Moreno, Lorde, Katy Perry, poet Amanda Gorman, and Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Channing Dungey have been named Variety’s 2021 Power of Women: Los Angeles honorees. They will be...
Sahraa Karimi Is Making a Film About Her Escape from Afghanistan
“Hava, Maryam, Ayesha” filmmaker Sahraa Karimi is among the tens of thousands of civilians who have fled Afghanistan. Along with her family, she managed to escape first to Istanbul and then make...
Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, & Effie T. Brown Join Forces to Produce “Sorcerority” Adaptation
Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, and Effie T. Brown are joining the “Sorcerority.” The trio are producing a feature film based on the fantasy graphic novel “Sorcerority,”...
Trailer Watch: “Mothers of the Revolution” Pays Tribute to the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp
“If you always do as you’re told, then you don’t ever change anything,” an alumna of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp observes in the new trailer for “Mothers of...
“Zola” Cinematographer Ari Wegner to Be Honored with TIFF Variety Artisan Award
The 20201 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced another TIFF Tribute Award honoree. Ari Wegner, the cinematographer of “Zola” and TIFF 2021 title “The Power of...
Joanna Gleason Will Make Feature Writing and Directing Debut with “The Grotto”
Joanna Gleason is making her way from the enchanted forests of fairy tales to “The Grotto.” The actress — who won a Tony for her work in the original run of “Into the...
Kasi Lemmons to Direct Whitney Houston Biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” Naomi Ackie to Star
Just a few weeks after the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” hit theaters there’s word that another female music icon is getting her own feature film. “Harriet” and...
Trailer Watch: Janet Tobias, John Hoffman, and Nat Geo Present an Intimate Portrait of “Fauci”
For many people, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the sole light in the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has unwaveringly offered the public hope, guidance, and common sense — and reminded us...
Venice 2021 Women Directors: Meet Laura Bispuri – “The Peacock’s Paradise”
Laura Bispuri’s first film, “Sworn Virgin,” was presented in Competition at the Berlinale and received the Nora Ephron Prize at Tribeca Film Festival, the Firebird Award at Hong...
“Candyman’s” Nia DaCosta Makes History as First Black Woman Director to Open Pic at Top of Domestic B.O.
Nia DaCosta is adding another milestone to her résumé. She became the first Black woman filmmaker to open a movie at No. 1 at the domestic box office with her latest project,...
“Kevin Can F**k Himself” Renewed for Second Season at AMC
Allison McRoberts’ quest to take down her obnoxious, schlubby husband will continue. “Kevin Can F**k Himself,” a dark comedy that deconstructs the stereotypical Sitcom Wife trope,...
Dionne Warwick and Danis Goulet Named TIFF Tribute Award Recipients
Dionne Warwick and Danis Goulet will join Jessica Chastain and Alanis Obomsawin at the 2021 TIFF Tribute Awards. The former two are the latest to be named as honorees by Toronto International Film...
Victoria Mahoney to Direct “Old Guard” Sequel, Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne Reprising Roles
It’s official: Victoria Mahoney is now a member of “The Old Guard.” The filmmaker and history-making “Star Wars” second unit director has been tapped to helm the sequel...
Netflix and BBC Join Forces to Support Shows from Deaf, Disabled, and Neurodivergent Creatives
Two of the biggest names in media are working together to develop, fund, and co-produce shows from Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent creatives. Variety confirms Netflix and the BBC are entering into...
Tanya Saracho to Receive the Norman Lear Writer’s Honor at Imagen Awards
Tanya Saracho’s “efforts towards increasing diversity within all aspects of the entertainment industry” are set to be celebrated at this year’s Imagen Awards. According to a...
“Everything I Know About Love” Adaptation: Bel Powley & Emma Appleton to Star, China Moo-Young to Direct
As we previously reported, journalist Dolly Alderton is adapting her hit memoir “Everything I Know About Love” for television. Now there’s word the project — which has been been...
Ninja Thyberg to Write and Direct “Witches of Eastwick” Remake for Warner Bros.
Ninja Thyberg is forming her own coven. The “Pleasure” filmmaker has been tapped to write and direct a remake of the 1987 dark comedy “The Witches of Eastwick” for Warner...
Amanda Lipitz’s New Doc “Found” Acquired by Netflix, Gets Release Date
“Found,” Amanda Lipitz’s documentary about three adopted teens and their unexpected connection, has landed at Netflix. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streamer acquired...
Cynthia Erivo Will Topline and Exec Produce 1970s Drama-Thriller “Steel”
Cynthia Erivo received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in “Genius” — and now she’s set to play another brilliant, ambitious woman. She is set to...
Teaser Watch: Margaret Qualley Is a Single Mother Fighting for Survival in Netflix’s “Maid”
In the teaser for the upcoming Netflix series “Maid,” single mother and aspiring writer Alex (Margaret Qualley) tells a friend about a book she’s working on. It’s about a...
Jurnee Smollett and Misha Green Reteaming for Black Canary Standalone Pic at HBO Max
We haven’t seen the last of the DCEU’s Black Canary — or of Jurnee Smollett and Misha Green’s creative collaborations. The duo — who have previously worked together on...
Trailer Watch: It’s Time for UBA to Reckon with Its Racism in “The Morning Show” Season 2
At the end of “The Morning Show’s” first season, talk show hosts Alex (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) opened up about their network’s toxic, misogynist...
Debbie Lum’s College Application Doc “Try Harder!” Lands at Greenwich Entertainment
The hells of the high-pressure college application process are headed to the screen. Greenwich Entertainment has snagged North American distribution rights to “Try Harder!,” Debbie...
Women Make Movies Virtually Screening “Voices of Afghan Women” Collection for Free Through End of August
As the U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan and the Taliban continues to seize power, one of the many looming humanitarian crises involves what the future will hold for Afghan women. The Taliban has...
Pick of the Day: “Rare Beasts”
If you, like me, are a fan of the Billie Piper show “I Hate Suzie” — its anti-heroine lead, its focus on the messiness of feminism in theory vs. practice, its general acidity...
“Black Widow,” “Respect,” and “Mrs. America” Among Women’s Image Award Nominees
The Women’s Image Network (WIN) has announced the nominations for the 23rd Women’s Image Awards, which “celebrate artists whose work depicts dimensional female media images”...
Trailer Watch: Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals” Offers Us Front Row Seats to the End of the World
The final trailer for “Eternals,” Chloé Zhao’s much-anticipated foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has arrived — and promises plenty of action, humor, and existential...
Emily Ballou Writing “English Patient” Series for the BBC
Bad news for Elaine Benes: a series adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s novel “The English Patient” is in early development at the BBC. Deadline reports Emily Ballou is writing the Miramax...
“Angry Little Girls” Film and TV Projects in the Works at Gamechanger Films
Get ready to see a bunch of “Angry Little Girls.” Gamechanger Films is developing a TV series and several holiday movies based on Lela Lee’s webcomic. Deadline broke the news. Lee...
Trailer Watch: “Little Girl” Chronicles a Trans Child’s Experiences at School and Home
“One day, Sasha asked for a dress,” recalls a woman whose child was assigned male at birth. “I was embarrassed. But I saw the look in the mirror, with the dress. Such happiness. And...
Exclusive: The Cast & Crew of “Spirit Untamed” Discuss the Importance of Girls’ Onscreen Rep in Clip
In “Spirit Untamed,” a girl’s love for a mustang named Spirit leads her to forge lasting friendships with other young women — and discover an unexpected connection with her...
Tara Nicole Whitaker Making Feature Directorial Debut with Animated Pic “Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk”
Tara Nicole Whitaker has contributed to the animation of titles such as “Gravity Falls” and “DuckTales,” illustrated books like “Shady Baby” and the “My Baby Loves”...
AMC Studios Developing Shows from Michelle Ashford, Esta Spaulding, and Rachel Caris Love
Michelle Ashford, Esta Spaulding, and Rachel Caris Love are working on projects through AMC Studios’ scripts-to-series model, “which opens writers’ rooms to develop prospective series...
Trailer Watch: “LuLaRich” Exposes LuLaRoe’s Faux-Feminist Pyramid Scheme
LuLaRoe, a pyramid scheme that prides itself on empowering women, is the latest shady business venture to receive the investigative documentary treatment. A trailer for Julia Willoughby Nason and...
Sarah O’Gorman & Vicky Jewson Will Direct “The Witcher: Blood Origin” Limited Series for Netflix
Sarah O’Gorman and Vicky Jewson are joining the Witcherverse. They have been tapped to direct “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” the prequel series to Netflix fantasy show “The...
Emma Stone Signs On for “Cruella” Sequel
We haven’t seen the last of Emma Stone’s Cruella de Vil. According to Deadline, the Oscar winner has signed on to topline the sequel to this year’s “Cruella,” the origin...
Posy Dixon’s Beverly Glenn-Copeland Doc “Keyboard Fantasies” Acquired by Greenwich Entertainment
“The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” is heading to the big screen. According to a press release, Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Posy Dixon’s...
FX Sets Brit Marling Limited Series, Taps Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton for “Fleishman Is in Trouble”
FX announced a limited series from “The OA’s” Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, and confirmed “Little Miss Sunshine’s” Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton have been...
TIFF 2021 Adds Julie Cohen & Betsy West’s Julia Child Doc, Ava DuVernay’s Colin Kaepernick Series
Ava DuVernay, Julie Cohen, and Betsy West are the latest filmmakers to have projects added to the Toronto International Film Festival’s 2021 edition. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cohen...
Trailer Watch: Monica Lewinsky & Linda Tripp Take Center Stage in “Impeachment: American Crime Story”
“There is a woman I’m very close to in the midst of an affair with the President of the United States,” Linda Tripp, as played by Sarah Paulson, says in the new trailer for...
Debbie Allen Will Be Presented with the Television Academy’s Governors Award at 2021 Emmys
Debbie Allen will need to make some room on her mantle — the Television Academy’s Governors Award will soon take its place among her three Emmys, Golden Globe, Olivier Award, and 10 NAACP...
Emily Blunt to Play the Pinkerton Agency’s First Woman Detective in Amazon Studios Pic
Emily Blunt is trading in her explorer’s gear for a sleuth’s magnifying glass. The “Jungle Cruise” star will portray Kate Warne, the first woman to become a detective at the...
Lisa D’Apolito to Direct Doc About Ventriloquist Shari Lewis and Her Puppet Lamb Chop
“Love, Gilda” filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito is set to direct another doc about a beloved performer. A press release has announced she will helm “Shari & Lamb Chop,” which...
Submit Now: The ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest
Attention, high school and college-aged Latinx filmmakers: the inaugural ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest wants to see your work. The online festival, which will celebrate and amplify young Latinx...
Beanie Feldstein Will Be Broadway’s New “Funny Girl”
Beanie Feldstein is stepping into Babs’ roller skates. The “Booksmart” star will topline Broadway’s first “Funny Girl” revival, The Hollywood Reporter confirms....
Nicole Byer Lines Up Her First One-Hour Comedy Special at Netflix
Nicole Byer’s first hourlong comedy special is on the way. Variety reports the “Nailed It!” host’s currently-untitled special will be filmed at New York’s Gramercy...
Women’s Skateboarding Doc Now in Production at Tokyo Games, Jessica Edwards Directing
The first feature film charting the evolution of women’s skateboarding from underground activity to Olympic sport is on the way. A press release has announced production on “Skate...
Pick of the Day: “Materna”
Jean (Kate Lyn Sheil), Mona (Jade Eshete), Ruth (Lindsay Burdge), and Perizad (Assol Abdullina) are four very different women with no connection to one another, besides the fact that they are on the...
Debbie Allen, Kay Cannon, Nicole Kassell, & More to Serve as Mentors in New DGA Program for Women Directors
The women of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) are forming a squad. The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee has launched the Women’s Steering Committee Squad Mentorship Program (WSC Squad),...