The purpose of this weekly roundup is to highlight and celebrate films/TV from and about women. The news collected in this round up was announced between May 19 to May 25. As there is an abundance of news, some stories may slip through the cracks. In the event of this happening, please reply below with any news or release about women that should be shared.

Okay ladies, now let’s get in formation!

Women Behind the Camera

The directing duo behind the critically-acclaimed The Fits, Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis, are set to co-direct an untitled gothic psychological drama. Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly will produce the project that she developed through her Sixty Six Pictures banner. (Source: Variety)

Queen Latifah will star in and executive produce the film adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s novel The Tiger Rising. (Source: Deadline)

Kari Skogland set to direct Marvel’s 6-episode The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The series will potentially follow the adventures of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes after Wilson earns the shield from Captain America at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Emily VanCamp is confirmed to return as Sharon Carter a.k.a Agent 13. (Source: Deadline)

Tracee Ellis Ross and Dakota Johnson to star in Nisha Ganatra’s next feature Covers. The movie will be based on Flora Greeson’s script, which is a comedy set in Hollywood’s music scene. (Source: Variety)

Jaclyn Bethany to direct horror movie Thomasina starring Greta Bellamacina and Rileigh McDonald. Set in the underbelly of Los Angeles, Thomasina follows McDonald’s character, a mysterious teen whose life spins out of control after her mother’s murder. (Source: Variety)

Sharon Maguire to direct Hailee Steinfeld in romantic comedy Voicemails for Isabelle. Somewhat influenced by You’ve Got Mail the film will follow a young couple brought together through modern technology. (Source: Deadline)

Ann Hui’s Love After Love has begun shooting in China with Eddie Peng and Ma Sichun leading the cast. (Source: Screendaily)

Josie Rourke to direct This Nan’s Life, a film based on a sketch from The Catherine Tate Show. Tate will reprise her role as the profanity-laden pensioner, Joannie Taylor. (Source: Screendaily)

Casting News

Amandla Stenberg to step into Reese Witherspoon’s shoes in Universal’s re-imagining of 1996’s romantic-thriller Fear, which starred Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg. (Source: Deadline)

Sierra/Affinity retained the rights to sci-fi novel Slash/Back. The film will follow a ragtag group of girls led by Maika, who discover an alien invasion in the Arctic fjords and must fight back with makeshift weapons and their horror movie knowledge. (Source: Deadline)

Allison Janney, Regina Hall, Samira Wiley, Awkwafina, and Mila Kunis team up to form an all-star comedy cast for Tate Taylor’s Breaking News in Yuba Country. (Source: Deadline)

Shailene Woodley’s serial killer thriller Misanthrope makes a killing at Cannes with several distribution deals. Woodley is set to star as a talented FBI recruit tasked to help track a murderer. Casting is underway and filming will take place in Atlanta sometime this year. (Source: Deadline)

New Releases

In theatres:

• • Booksmart directed by Olivia Wilde; written by Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, Katie Silberman, and Emily Halpern
  • The Proposal directed by Jill Magid (limited release)
  • A Dog’s Journey directed by Gail Mancuso; written by Cathryn Michon, Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky, and W. Bruce Cameron.
  • Long Shot directed by Jonathan Levine; written by Liz Hannah and Dan Sterling
  • The Sun is Also a Star directed by Ry Russo-Young; written by Tracey Oliver based on the novel of the same name by Nicola Yoon
  • Poms written and directed by Zara Hayes

Streaming now:

• • Joy written and directed Sudabeh Mortezai
  • The Perfection directed by Richard Shepard; written by Nicole Snyder, Richard Shepard, and Eric C. Charmelo; starring Logan Browning and Allison Williams
  • After Maria directed by Nadia Hallgren
  • Wine Country directed by Amy Poehler; written by Amy Poehler, Emily Spivey, and Liz Cackowski
  • Knock Down the House directed by Rachel Lears
  • Dead to Me (series) created by Liz Feldman
  • Tuca & Bertie (series) created by Lisa Hanawalt
  • Wanda Sykes: Not Normal (stand-up) directed by Linda Mendoza
  • Good Sam directed by Kate Melville; written by Teena Booth and Dete Meserve

Updates

After a stellar debut at Cannes NEON and Hulu have picked up Céline Sciamma’s Portrait Of A Lady On Fire. (Source: Deadline)

Mati Diop’s Atlantique has been acquired by Netflix for distribution. Diop, the first Black woman in competition at Cannes, also won the Grand Prix prize. (Source: Variety)

Voltage Pictures moves forward with potential sequel to After, their adaptation of Anna Todd’s novel directed by Jenny Gage. As of right now, reporting does not indicate that Gage will return to direct. (Source: Variety)

New Trailer Alert

IFC Films released the first trailer to Jennifer Kent’s second feature The Nightingale.

by Ferdosa Abdi

Ferdosa Abdi is a lifelong film student and aspiring film festival programmer. Her favourite genres are science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her favourite director is Guillermo del Toro. She is madly in love with Eva Green and believes she should be cast in everything. You can follow Ferdosa on Twitter @atomicwick