“Ghostbusters” helmer Paul Feig is in “serious talks” to direct Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson in an untitled comedy that’s been described as “The Devil Wears Prada” meets “Broadway News,” Variety reports. Fox 2000 snagged the rights to the untitled film after a competitive bidding war in late September. Kaling penned the script.
The story centers on a respected, long-time late-night talk show host (Thompson) who is at risk of losing her show at the same time she welcomes her first female writer (Kaling) to the writers’ room.
As Variety notes, Fox has previously released two of Feig’s female-led comedies, 2015’s “Spy” and 2013’s “The Heat.” Both films were box office hits: “Spy” grossed over $235 million worldwide on a $65 million budget, and “The Heat” took home more than $229 million internationally and was made for $43 million.
While we’d love a woman on board to direct this project, if a man is going to be hired for the gig, we’re certainly rooting for Feig. Besides his commitment to making films with female protagonists, Feig has also repeatedly — and enthusiastically — used his platform to advocate for more women onscreen and behind the scenes.
The “Freaks and Geeks” creator has, for example, acknowledged that women directors are underrepresented, and that they’re often shut out of jobs to helm the kinds of female-led comedies he’s become best known for. “I have guilt that I’m a man doing these movies,” he’s explained. “Women should be doing them, too! The studios aren’t giving them the opportunity for whatever reason, and the roles still aren’t there for women like they should be.” We aren’t going to name Feig Woman of the Year, but the writer-director has proven himself to be an invaluable ally for women in Hollywood.
