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