Females have been directing up a storm in Tinseltown as of late so it’s no surprise that the big studios have taken notice. 2020 and beyond sees more and more female directors entrusted with big-budget properties, featuring some of the top actors working today.
The following list features 10 upcoming studio films by female directors to get excited about, some of which are pure blockbuster fare, targeted to as many eyeballs as possible, while some are less so, though are still intriguing enough to keep on your radar. No matter the case, it’s an exciting time in Hollywood for female directors.
Birds of Prey - Cathy Yan (Warner Bros)
It’s been a long time coming, but DCEU fan-favorite Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) finally gets her solo film in the upcoming Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). After a nasty breakup with the Joker, Quinn is even more free to go about her anarchistic ways in Gotham City. She’ll be teamed up with a fellow gang of lady anti-heroes when a new villain arrives in town.
The film version of Harley Quinn made her debut in 2016’s heavily criticized Suicide Squad, and she was generally the most well-received thing about that movie, prompting work on a solo film soon after. Robbie has given this character her all and it has shown, to the point where it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. The real test here will fall on director Cathy Yan’s shoulders as she only has one other small-budget feature to her name. But with Robbie leading the film’s talent pool, success should be on the cards.
Mulan - Directed by Niki Caro (Disney)
The latest in Disney’s live-action remakes of their past popular animated features, Mulan tells the story of a Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a man to join the nation’s army and save her ailing father from having to fight. Mulan features universal themes that resonate across borders and creeds and should be a hit for Disney and director Niki Caro.
Caro is a highly capable director who’s making her debut on a film with a massive budget. With 2002’s Whale Rider and 2017’s The Zookeeper’s Wife to her name, she has shown that she can handle heartfelt, emotionally powerful stories, making her the ideal choice for Mulan.
The Craft - Zoe Lister-Jones (Sony)
A remake of the 1996 teen-horror film of the same name, The Craft follows a young woman who arrives at a Catholic school and befriends a group of girls who a part of a coven of witches. Things quickly turn dark for the recruit when the witches begin to use their powers for evil.
Sony Pictures has a long history producing horror films, and while their list is divisive, there’s no doubt they’ve released some cult horror classics like 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, 2005’s Hostel, and 2016’s Don’t Breathe. Remaking their own property in The Craft makes sense and with the talented up-and-coming director Zoe Lister-Jones at the helm, we could be in store for another modern cult horror classic.
The Photograph - Stella Meghie (Universal)
Right in time for Valentine’s Day, writer/director Stella Meghie’s romance film The Photograph follows a journalist who falls in love with the daughter of a famous photographer that he’s tasked to write a story on. Rising stars LaKeith Stanfield and Issa Rae play the two lovebird leads, allowing them to showcase their ever-improving acting abilities and range.
Stanfield and Rae have been making a name for themselves in Hollywood over the last few years and they seem to have a natural on-screen chemistry together, which should make for an authentic portrayal of young love in modern-day. Love stories tend to be timeless and with a cast this good, Stella Meghie’s film is sure to warm the hearts of many an audience.
Black Widow - Cate Shortland (Disney)
In what has been a long time coming, one of the MCU’s most beloved characters, Black Widow, gets her solo film, helmed by Australian director Cate Shortland. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha Romanoff and in it, she reunites with her super-spy family in mother Russia as they team up to take down a villainous threat.
Black Widow is one of the last remaining prominent Marvel characters to receive a solo film, so eager fans should be relieved that this has been placed under the watchful eye of Shortland. Marvel Studios’ films are always highly entertaining, and with an impressive supporting cast that includes Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz, Black Widow is sure to follow suit.
Candyman - Nia DaCosta (Universal)
Another 90s cult classic horror film scheduled for a modern reboot is Nia DaCosta’s Candyman. An underappreciated horror movie icon, the Candyman is armed with a hook for a hand and appears when someone says his name aloud five times in front of a mirror, after which they soon meet their gruesome demise.
The character haunted many dreams upon his debut in the horror world in 1992, and producer/co-writer Jordan Peele and director Nia DaCosta will aim to haunt a new generation of horror fans in 2020. The Candyman may not be as recognizable as Freddy Krueger, Jason, or Michael Myers, but he’s just as terrifying.
Promising Young Woman - Emerald Fennell (Universal)
Carey Mulligan plays a woman with a traumatic past who puts on a drunken ruse at a bar each week to entrap any men that attempt to take advantage of her in Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman. It’s a film with a strong message and one that doesn’t pull any punches.
Writer/director Emerald Fennell uses an unsubtle approach to get the point across in this film, which should make for some engrossing viewing. It’s the type of film that is sure to fire up a lot of discussion about the themes amongst the audience, which is often the mark of a great movie.
Wonder Woman 1984 - Patty Jenkins (Warner Bros)
Patty Jenkins helped rejuvenate the struggling DCEU when her 2017 film, Wonder Woman, opened to universal critical acclaim and whopping box-office earnings. Her upcoming sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, takes the popular DC heroine to the 80s, where she’ll once again have to use her special abilities to save the Earth from impending doom.
It’s no surprise that Jenkins has signed on for more Wonder Woman films considering the popularity of the franchise, and the upcoming sequel looks like it could surpass the success of the first film. If that were to happen, then DC and Warner Bros would be truly back in the race to catch up to Marvel’s dominance in the comic-book movie space.
Eternals - Chloé Zhao (Disney)
Marvel Studios’ newest entry into their Phase 4 slate of films follows a group of immortal beings, known as the Eternals, who come out from hiding following the events of Avengers: Endgame to take on a new, ancient enemy. The finer details of the plot are still under wraps, though the cast has been announced - and it’s impressive.
With the likes of Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Kit Harrington, and Kumail Nanjiani all in leading roles, Chloé Zhao’s Eternals is almost certain to strike gold for Marvel. Add to that what appears to be a storyline of epic proportions and the future looks promising for Zhao and the MCU.
The Matrix 4 - Directed by Lana Wachowski (Warner Bros)
The science-fiction movie world was changed forever in 1999 following the release of the Wachowski’s The Matrix. Despite the lackluster sequels that followed, the franchise was still considered a huge success. In 2021, Lana Wachowski will be bringing fans a new installment, The Matrix 4, which will see original leads Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss reprising their iconic roles as Neo and Trinity.
The Matrix films delivered some of the most thought-provoking philosophical themes ever seen in sci-fi cinema, some that were truly ahead of the times. Anticipation could hit an all-time high as this nears its release, with fans eager to know what Lana Wachowski has in store for these beloved characters.
