#Women Writers
Emma Roberts to Star in Netflix Figure Skating Drama
Emma Roberts is following in Margot Robbie’s footsteps and taking to the ice. The “American Horror Story” star is signed on to topline a project set in the world of competitive...
Bruna Papandrea Developing Signe Pike’s Historical Epic Novel “The Lost Queen” for TV
Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories plans to adapt yet another book for the small screen. Since this spring the company has announced it will be bringing Allison Pearson’s “How Hard Can It...
“UnREAL” Co-Creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro Inks Overall Deal with ABC Studios
“UnREAL” concluded its fourth and final season earlier this year, but series co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro has plenty more stories to tell. She just signed on to a two-year overall...
Tribeca Announces Through Her Lens’ 2018 Participants
Tribeca Film Festival and Chanel have partnered once again for Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program. A mentorship program “created to provide a balance of...
Issa Rae and Stella Meghie Reteam for “American Princess”
Stella Meghie and Issa Rae are reuniting. Just a month after premiering her latest pic, “The Weekend,” at the Toronto International Film Festival, Meghie has lined up another feature. The...
Patricia Heaton-Starrer “Carol’s Second Act” Secures CBS Series Commitment
Patricia Heaton is eyeing a return to CBS. The former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star’s latest project has scored a series commitment from the network, The Hollywood Reporter...
WeForShe Accepting Nominations for 2019 WriteHer List
Industry professionals, this is for you: WeForShe is accepting nominations for its fifth annual WriteHer List, a curation of the best women-written, women-driven pilot scripts out there. The...
Trailer Watch: Desiree Akhavan Is “The Bisexual”
“I’m pretty sure bisexuality is a myth invented by ad executives to sell flavored vodka,” says Desiree Akhavan in a new trailer for “The Bisexual.” “The...
Adult Girl Scouts Comedy in Development at NBC
Give Allison Hord all the badges and cookies — the “Late Night With Seth Meyers” writer has a feminist girl scout comedy in development at NBC. Deadline confirmed the news. Penned...
Trailer Watch: Sarah Jessica Parker Is a Singer in Crisis in “Here and Now”
“I’m grateful to have a life in music. There are things that I haven’t achieved , but I’m not done yet,” says Sarah Jessica Parker in a new trailer for “Here and...
Catherine Hardwicke to Direct Feature Adaptation of “Dissonance”
Catherine Hardwick has signed on to helm another genre adaptation. The “Twilight” and “Red Riding Hood” director will bring “Dissonance” to the screen for Straight...
Zoe Lister-Jones Lands Put Pilot Commitment from ABC
“Life in Pieces” star Zoe Lister-Jones has a new project in the works at ABC. The “Band Aid” writer, director, and actress secured a put pilot commitment for “Woman...
Soska Sisters to Pen New Black Widow Comic Book Series
A standalone Black Widow film is finally in the works — and with a woman at the helm — but there’s more great news for fans of the former Russian spy. Jen and Sylvia Soska have...
Trailer Watch: Bridey Elliott’s Family Is Haunted in “Clara’s Ghost”
Bridey Elliott’s debut feature is a family affair. “Clara’s Ghost” sees the writer-director casting her own family to tell the unusual story of the Reynolds clan. A new trailer...
Tig Notaro Has a Dramedy in the Works at ABC
“One Mississippi” was cancelled earlier this year, but the Amazon series’ co-creator and star has kept a high profile since. Tig Notaro released a new Netflix special in May, lined...
Weekly Update for October 5: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING The Hate U Give – Written by Audrey Wells (Opens in Select Theaters; Opens Everywhere October 19) “The Hate U Give”: Erika Doss/20th Century Fox Starr...
Maggie Gyllenhaal to Make Directorial Debut with Adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s “The Lost Daughter”
Maggie Gyllenhaal is following in the footsteps of her character on “The Deuce” and stepping behind the camera. The Oscar-nominated actress is set to make her directorial debut with...
Dark Comedy About Koreatown in Development at HBO, Greta Lee to Star and Co-Write
Contrary to what most films and TV shows would have you believe, Los Angeles is diverse city. Issa Rae-starrer “Insecure” has shown audiences a different side of LA than they’re...
Upcoming Docuseries “Ink & Paint” Will Spotlight Unrecognized Women of Disney Animation
The New York Times has been writing better-late-than-never obits for some of history’s most notable, yet previously ignored, women. Now Deadline reports that Disney is set to give its...
Niki Schwartz-Wright Comedy Series “Exes in Law” in Development at NBC
“Speechless” writer-producer Niki Schwartz-Wright has a new project in development at NBC. She’s penning the half-hour comedy, titled “Exes in Law,” and is among its...
Suzan-Lori Parks to Accept Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award
2018 continues to be a banner year for Suzan-Lori Parks. News broke this summer that the playwright and screenwriter would pen a Billie Holiday biopic and now The New York Times has confirmed Parks...
Under the Radar: “Quiet Killing” Delves into Canada’s Mistreatment of Indigenous Women
Many people in the United States often joke about “moving to Canada,” as if doing so will free themselves of enduring legacies of capitalism and imperialism. Moving north, even in the...
Whitney Cummings Working on #MeToo-Themed Comedy for Amazon
Whitney Cummings will explore college in the #MeToo Era for her next TV project. Deadline reports the multi-hyphenate is joining forces with “Precious” director/”Empire”...
Submit Your Script to the 2019 Athena IRIS Screenwriting Lab
The Athena IRIS Screenwriting Lab is accepting scripts for its 2019 edition. If you’re a female-identifying writer with a feature-length screenplay centering on at least one woman in a...
Trailer Watch: Chef Samin Nosrat Explores What Makes Food Delicious in “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”
Chef Samin Nosrat has, by her own account, spent her entire life in pursuit of flavor. She’s traveled around the world exploring what defines good cooking — and she’s sharing her...
Trailer Watch: Faith Drives a Wedge Between a Daughter and Mother in Nijla Mu’min’s “Jinn”
Seventeen-year-old Summer (Zoe Renee, “The Quad”) is having a hard time connecting with her mother, Jade (Simone Missick, “Luke Cage”), in the trailer for “Jinn.”...
October 2018 Film Preview
Halloween is nearing, so it comes as no surprise that some of this month’s films aim to deliver terrifying thrills and get audiences in the mood for the holiday. And many of the exciting new...
“9 to 5” and Other Jane Fonda Favorites Return to UK Theaters
Almost 40 years ago, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton took office sexism into their own hands in Colin Higgins and Patricia Resnick’s workplace comedy “9 to 5.” Now, BFI...
Weekly Update for September 28: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD WANTS YOUR INPUT Women and Hollywood strives to provide resources that are helpful to our readers and our community. We would be grateful if you took a few moments to participate...
Guest Post: How I Sought to Improve Black Representation with My First Feature “Solace”
Guest Post by Tchaiko Omawale Being a Black female filmmaker, I carry the privilege and responsibility of creating the things I wish I had seen when I was growing up. My two favorite movie genres...
Trailer Watch: Two Strangers Buckle Up for a Road Trip in Hannah Fidell’s “The Long Dumb Road”
Nat (Tony Revolori) is leaving his old Arizona life in the dust for a chance to study photography at a Los Angeles art school. Along the way, he runs into one slight hitch: his car won’t start....
Trailer Watch: Desiree Akhavan Proves Bisexuality Isn’t a Myth in “The Bisexual”
“Sometimes I think if a guy had swept me off my feet, I would have gone the path of least resistance,” says Leila (Desiree Akhavan) in the new trailer for Channel 4’s upcoming...
Bella Heesom’s Play “Rejoicing At Her Wondrous Vulva” Being Adapted for TV
Good news, “Fleabag” fans: another UK woman-written play is getting the TV treatment. Sid Gentle Films, the production company behind “Killing Eve,” is developing Bella...
Nicole Kidman-Starrer “The Female Persuasion” Lands at Amazon
As we previously reported, powerhouse Nicole Kidman and her production company, Blossom Films, have picked up the rights to another Meg Wolitzer best-seller. Now, Variety writes Wolitzer’s...
Neither Here Nor There: Crowdfunding Picks
“America is a melting pot” you often hear people say. Different cultures, religions, and ethnicities all living side by side to make up the diversity we see in our everyday lives. There...
Elizabeth Banks and Darlene Hunt Team Up for Female Mechanic Comedy Series
Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman’s Brownstone Productions is carrying quite the slate lately — but that isn’t stopping the duo from taking on even more projects. Deadline reports...
Eva Green and Eve Hewson to Star in TV Adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s “The Luminaries”
BBC Two’s long-awaited Eleanor Catton adaptation has finally found its stars. Deadline reports that “Penny Dreadful’s” Eva Green and Eve Hewson (“Bridge of Spies”)...
IFC Midnight Picks Up Jen McGowan’s “Rust Creek”
“Rust Creek,” a survival thriller directed by Jen McGowan and written by Julie Lipson, has been picked up by IFC Midnight. As Variety reports, the distribution company is planning a...
Felicia D. Henderson-Penned “PANK” Series Receives Script Commitment at ABC
Felicia D. Henderson is taking to ABC to give PANKs (Professional Auntie No Kids) their due. Deadline reports the network has given the Henderson-written “PANK” a script commitment with...
Trailer Watch: Melanie Lynskey Raises an Ornery Teenage Daughter in “Sadie”
“I wrote a paper for class where I tried to imagine my life as a soldier with you,” teenager Sadie (Sophia Mitri Schloss) writes in the most recent letter to her deployed father....
Lena Waithe and Halle Berry Teaming Up for BET’s “Boomerang” Series
The creative team of BET’s forthcoming “Boomerang” series has just acquired two female powerhouses. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emmy-winner Lena Waithe and Oscar-winner...
Zoë Kravitz to Topline Gender-Flipped “High Fidelity” Series
Zoë Kravitz will soon be making Top Five lists and tracking down her ex-lovers. Variety reports the “Big Little Lies” actress has been tapped to star in the gender-swapped series...
Trailer Watch: Elle Fanning Runs From the Past in Mélanie Laurent’s “Galveston”
The newest trailer for Mélanie Laurent’s “Galveston” eerily shares what one can only presume is the film’s overarching, psychological conflict. As a disembodied voiceover tells us,...
The Met Is Finally Commissioning Operas by Women
Today in this-is-2018-WTF?! news, the Metropolitan Opera has announced several new ventures intended to draw in audiences, including commissioning women to write operas for the first time ever. Yep,...
Trailer Watch: Hailee Steinfeild Gets More Than She Bargained For in “Bumblebee”
“Here’s the deal: People can be terrible about things they don’t understand,” Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) explains to her impressionable VW bug-turned-Autobot,...
Weekly Update for September 21: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD WANTS YOUR INPUT Women and Hollywood strives to provide resources that are helpful to our readers and our community. We would be grateful if you took a few moments to participate...
NBC Snags Hourlong Mother-Daughter FBI Drama from Wendy Calhoun and Elizabeth Banks
Wendy Calhoun has scored her second network sale of the season. According to Deadline, NBC has put an hourlong mother-daughter FBI drama from the former “Empire” scribe, Elizabeth Banks...
Julia Hart’s Sci-Fi “Fast Color” Acquired by Codeblack, Gugu Mbatha-Raw Stars
“Fast Color” is heading to theaters. Deadline reports that distribution rights to Julia Hart’s sci-fi have been obtained by Lionsgate’s label Codeblack Films. Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The...
Kenya Temporarily Lifts Ban on “Rafiki,” Making the Lesbian Love Story Eligible for Oscars
Audiences in Kenya are finally allowed to watch “Rafiki” — for now, at least. A Kenyan judge has temporarily lifted the country’s ban on Wanuri Kahiu’s lesbian romance,...
“The Good Place’s” Tiya Sircar to Topline Netflix Mystery “Good Sam,” Kate Melville Directing
Tiya Sircar is visiting Netflix from “The Good Place.” The recurring star of the NBC afterlife comedy is set to topline a film for the streamer, Deadline reports. Inspired by Dete...
Michelle Nader and Morgan Murphy’s Sisters Comedy “Danny Issues” Goes to Fox as Put Pilot
Michelle Nader and Morgan Murphy, formerly writer-producers on “2 Broke Girls,” are working on another project about two flawed women with a tight bond. Deadline reports Fox has given a...