The trend of women-in-war films continues. Just two weeks ago we observed that there’s a real demand for female-centered war stories. Yesterday brought news that Ellen Page will be following in the footsteps of Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon and others by playing a female soldier in an upcoming project. Page has signed on to star in indie drama “Lioness,” based on the true story of Lance Corporal Leslie Martz, a US Marine.
As The Hollywood Reporter describes, “Martz was sent to Afghanistan as a leader of a Female Engagement Team and tasked with the dual mandate of gaining the trust of Afghan women by equipping them with necessary skills for independence but also secretly extracting information from them about their Taliban husbands.”
Martz was trying to keep a secret of her own — her sexual orientation. She wasn’t “out” as a gay woman in the army. The high-stakes mission was further complicated by the fact that Martz formed a strong bond with the women and children she was under orders to spy on and betray.
If you’re having trouble imagining famously tiny (and Canadian) Page playing an American soldier in the armed forces, check out 2005’s “Hard Candy” and your mind will be changed. The “Juno” star plays a teenage girl who lures a pedophile to her house. Suffice it to say, Page can convincingly intimidate anyone and won’t have any problems stepping into the boots of a Marine for “Lioness.”
Rosalind Ross (“Matador”) wrote the script. A director hasn’t been named yet.
Page will appear next in “Freeheld” alongside Julianne Moore. “Freeheld” sees Moore battling to secure pension benefits after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Page plays her girlfriend. “Freeheld” opens October 2.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
