
The purpose of this weekly news roundup is to highlight and celebrate films/TV from and about women. The news collected in this week’s roundup was announced between January 27 to February 2. 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 information about films/TV made or about women that should be shared.
Okay ladies, now let’s get in formation!
Women Behind The Camera

Wanuri Kahiu (Rafiki) will direct the adaptation of Christina Hammonds Reed’s upcoming YA novel The Black Kids for The Gotham Group. Source: Deadline
Producers Elizabeth Avellán and Rana Joy Glickman establish a global multimedia production company Teal house Entertainment to develop a diverse slate of films from underrepresented voices. Source: Deadline
Sony buys Jennifer Harrington’s (Dear…) original script It’s the End of Liz as We Know It which will be produced by Jake Kasdan (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle). Source: Deadline
Nahnatchka Khan (Always Be My Maybe) may direct feature adaptation of K-Pop YA novel I’ll Be the One for HBO Max. Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Jodie Foster (Love, Antosha) set to direct untitled adaptation of Seymour Reit’s The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa. Source: Deadline
Casting News

Priyanka Chopra (Quantico) is in final negotiations to join the Wachowskis’ Matrix 4. Source: Variety
Bella Thorne (Famous in Love) to star in Mitizi Perione’s (Braid) post-apocalyptic thriller The Uncanny. Source: Deadline
Deepika Padukone and Rishi Kapoor to star in Bollywood remake of Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro’s The Intern. Source: Variety
TV News

Jacquie Walters (Abby’s) will script ABC’s drama pilot based on Emily Bleeker’s novel Wreckage. Source: Variety
Gabrielle Union (L.A.’s Finest) to executive produce Jenina Kibuka’s (Insatiable) drama Afro.Punks for HBO Max. Source: Deadline
Cecily Strong (SNL) to star in musical comedy from Despicable Me writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio for Apple. Source: Variety
Starz gives Yvette Lee Bowser’s comedy Run the World an eight-episode series order. Source: Variety
Julie Delpy (My Zoe) delves into Tv for the first time with an L.A. set comedy On the Verge. Source: Variety
Liz Heldens (The Passage) sets a new drama pilot Big Leap at Fox. Source: Variety
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Production teams up with HBO to develop Ken Cheng’s comedy House of Chow. Source: Deadline
Kelli Berglund (Now Apocalypse) set to star opposite Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig, and Alison Luff in Starz’s eight-episode wrestling drama Heels. Source: Deadline
Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) signs overall deal with ABC Studios and sets pop star comedy Hit at Hulu. Source: Deadline
Leah Remini signs first look deal with Critical Content and sets Seeking Justice anthology docuseries. Source: Deadline
Queen Latifah-led The Equalizer reboot at CBS gets pilot order. Source: Deadline
HBO Max order women-led comedy pilot Broad City alum Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. Source: Deadline
Netflix greenlights supernatural spy drama series In From The Cold starring Margarita Levieva (Revenge). Source: Deadline
Amazon developing dark comedy animated series from Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph’s Animal Pictures. Source: Deadline
Rose Byrne (Peter Rabbit) to star in Apple’s dramedy Physical from Annie Weisman (Almost Family) and Alexandra Cunningham (Dirty John). Source: Deadline
LA Ultra a black comedy neo-noir from The Passage‘s Liz Heldens and Dennis Saldua put into development at Freeform.
Tiffany Haddish (Tuca & Bertie) to executive produce half-hour autobiographical comedy series from Aida Rodriguez for HBO Max. Source: Deadline
Katherine McPhee (Waitress) to star in Caryn Lucas’ 10-episode comedy series Country Comfort for Netflix. Source: Deadline
Sarah Shahi (Person of Interest) to lead of Netflix’s eight-episode dramedy Sex/Life. Source: Deadline
Update

A24 are close to a deal to acquire the worldwide distribution rights to Miranda July’s third feature Kajilionaire. Source: Variety
Sky has acquired the UK distribution rights to Hillary the four part docu series about Hillary Clinton from Nanette Burstein. Source: Variety
New Releases

*releases may vary depending on region*
In theatres:
- The Rhythm Section directed by Reed Morano
- The Assistant written and directed by Kitty Green
- The Turning directed by Floria Sigismondi
Streaming:
- Miss Americana (Documentary) directed by Lana Wilson (Netflix)
- 37 Seconds written and directed by Hikari (Netflix)
- Jezebel written and directed by Numa Perrier
- Luna Nera (Series) created by Francesca Manieri, Laura Paolucci, and Tiziana Triana (Netflix)
- Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour (Concert Documentary) (HBO Latino)
- Shrill (Series) created by Aidy Bryant, Alexandra Rushfield, and Lindy West. (Hulu)
Trailer of the Week
Check out the second trailer for Stella Meghie’s romantic drama The Photograph. In theatres Valentine’s Day.
by Ferdosa Abdi
Ferdosa Abdi is a lifelong film student and aspiring film festival programmer. Her favourite genres are science-fiction, fantasy, and horror and 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
Categories: Anything and Everything, News, Women Film-makers