The Year of RBG continues. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Mimi Leder’s highly anticipated Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic, “On the Basis of Sex,” will make its world premiere as AFI Fest’s opening night film on November 8.
This will be a homecoming of sorts for Leder, who, as part of the class of ’73, was one of the first women accepted to the AFI Conservatory.
Scheduled to hit theaters December 25 — the 25th being a reference to Justice Ginsburg’s 25 years on the Supreme Court — “On the Basis of Sex” follows a young Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) as she builds her law career and takes on a huge sexual discrimination case. The pic was written by the real Ginsburg’s nephew, Daniel Stiepleman.
“AFI was founded to celebrate excellence in the art form and to ensure it for future generations,” remarked Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “‘On the Basis of Sex’ brings these dual mandates together as one — a story essential to our times and a triumph for one of the first female directors at the AFI Conservatory. It’s our honor to shine a proper light upon Mimi and this landmark film.”
“As one of the first women ever admitted to the AFI Conservatory, it’s particularly meaningful to me that ‘On the Basis of Sex’ will open AFI Fest 2018,” Leder said. “My time at the Conservatory was a life-changing experience and informed my creative journey. I am forever grateful. The origin story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in this 25th anniversary year of her appointment to the Supreme Court, couldn’t come at a more important moment in our history nor be shown at a more relevant place than AFI Fest, a symbol of artistic integrity and the enduring power of cinema,” she added. “I hope girls and young women in particular will see the film and find inspiration to realize their own unlimited potential.”
Ginsburg is also the subject of this year’s “RBG,” the 22nd highest-grossing doc since 1982. Julie Cohen and Betsy West directed the box office hit. A limited series about Ginsburg and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is in the works, too.
Leder has been tapped to direct and produce Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s upcoming Apple morning show drama. “The Leftovers” and “Shameless” are among her recent credits. She won two Emmys for helming eps of “ER.”
“On the Basis of Sex” marks Jones’ first feature since 2016’s box office smash “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” She recently appeared as herself in the satirical short “Leading Lady Parts,” which sees several actresses vying for the same lead film role and jumping through increasingly sexist hoops to land the part. Jones received a best actress Oscar nod for “The Theory of Everything.”
AFI Fest 2018 will take place November 8-15 in Hollywood.
