‘Anchor Baby’: Discover all the upcoming films created by women
The spotlight on women shaping film and business has held steady since the late 2010s, even as some projects stalled and others found their way to audiences. The story of Isaiah in Anchor Baby still sits at the center of that conversation, an early signal that female writers were gaining ground through targeted programs and producers willing to back them.
Producer Dale Johnson (Lost City of Z) acquires the rights to Anna Hozian’s Anchor Baby
Lynmar Entertainment holds the rights to Anchor Baby, Anna Hozian’s coming-of-age tale about a thirteen-year-old raised inside the Arizona Border Militia. The script won the first cycle of Meryl Streep’s Writer’s Lab. Danny Mooney signed on to direct. Mooney noted at the time that the story lets viewers feel love, loyalty, and learning alongside hate, racism, and violence through the eyes of its young protagonist. No further production or release updates have surfaced since the 2017 announcement.
Current State of Women Directors in Hollywood
Recent data places the share of women directing top-grossing films at its lowest point in seven years. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative reported that women helmed 8.1 percent of the top one hundred films in 2025, down from 13.4 percent in 2024. Industry observers point to pipeline issues, financing hurdles, and inconsistent studio commitments as ongoing factors. The dip arrives even as individual women continue to break through on prestige projects and streaming originals.
Meryl Streep’s Writer’s Lab Legacy
The Writer’s Lab was created to expand opportunities for female screenwriters, and Anchor Baby claimed the first-year prize. The program pairs emerging writers with established mentors and has continued to run additional cycles since its launch. Its emphasis on craft and industry access remains a model cited by later initiatives aimed at underrepresented voices behind the camera.
Wonder women: Enterprising Women adds Blackline CEO to their board
Enterprising Women magazine named Therese Tucker, founder and then-CEO of BlackLine, to its advisory board. The publication focuses on female business owners and entrepreneurship. Tucker had built BlackLine into a major player in financial automation software. Monica Smiley, the magazine’s editor and publisher, welcomed Tucker’s experience scaling a tech company. Tucker stepped back from the full-time CEO role in June 2026 yet remains on the BlackLine board.
STXfilms is ready to roll in the UK
STX shuttered its UK distribution arm in 2022 and refocused on production. The company relaunched in January 2026 with fresh capital and a slate centered on films budgeted at twenty million dollars or less. Greenland 2: Migration arrived that same month as an early marker of the new direction.
Evolution of STX Entertainment
STX Entertainment has shifted from a broad international distributor to a leaner production entity. The January 2026 relaunch emphasized independent-scale projects and creative partnerships rather than wide releases. The move aligns with broader industry trends toward mid-budget films and targeted distribution windows.
Star Wars isn’t saving Disney
Bob Iger returned as Disney CEO in 2022 and served until March 2026, when Josh D’Amaro succeeded him. The leadership handoff followed years of franchise performance questions and streaming investment debates. D’Amaro inherited a portfolio that includes both legacy film brands and newer streaming priorities.
At 84, Ellen Burstyn bursts on the directorial scene
Ellen Burstyn was set to make her directorial debut at eighty-four with the comedy Bathing Flo, which she would also executive produce and co-star in. QC Entertainment was attached to produce and finance. No further public updates on production or release have appeared since the 2017 announcement.
Virginia Woolf’s love story finally headed to the big screen
Vita & Virginia reached audiences after premiering at TIFF in 2018 and receiving a 2019 release. Chanya Button directed the drama about the relationship between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. Gemma Arterton starred as Sackville-West; Elizabeth Debicki took the role of Woolf after earlier casting plans shifted.
Nicole Kidman talks about women in Hollywood in NY Times interview
Nicole Kidman discussed her production company and its first hit, Rabbit Hole, in a New York Times interview. She also spoke about Big Little Lies, the HBO series where she starred and served as a producer. Kidman noted that owning her company gave her leverage to develop projects she might not otherwise be offered. She has maintained that producing focus, including continued work on women-centered stories tied to Big Little Lies and other adaptations.
Women Producers and Production Companies Today
Kidman’s sustained output reflects a wider pattern of female producers building long-term slates. Inclusion reports continue to track behind-the-camera roles, showing incremental gains in some areas and persistent gaps in others. Female-led companies often cite creative control and project selection as primary motivations, echoing Kidman’s earlier comments about shaping her own opportunities.
