Female Screenwriter Tops 2014 Black List
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 9:25AM
Manuel here to share some of the best unproduced screenplays written by women (according to industry insiders).
The Black List, now in its tenth iteration, compiles an annual list of the most liked unproduced screenplays. Since 2004, some of the screenplays featured on here have gone on to become Oscar-winning films like Argo, Juno, and The King’s Speech, as well as modest successes like Lars and the Real Girl, Charlie Wilson’s War and 50/50. Even current Oscar-favorite The Imitation Game topped the list in 2011. Other titles like Recount, Things We Lost in the Fire, The Beaver and Snow White and the Huntsman have been featured. That is to say, it’s quite a mixed bag (this year includes a screenplay for Wonka, for example, “a dark, reimagining of the Willy Wonka story beginning in World War II and culminating with his takeover of the chocolate factory,” which… well, to each their own).
This is the first year a screenplay written by a woman has topped the list:
CATHERINE THE GREAT by Kristina Lauren Anderson
Sophia Augusta takes control of her life, her marriage, and her kingdom becoming Russia’s most celebrated and beloved monarch: Catherine the Great.
In terms of casting my mind immediately went to Keira Knightley but that might be the Anna Karenina flashbacks. Such beautiful, gorgeously designed flashbacks! While female monarch films (including former Black List entries, Grace of Monaco and The Other Boleyn Girl) have not been outright hits, wouldn't you love to see this on screen with... Alicia Vikander? Diane Kruger? Rebecca Hall? Who would you go with?
Though perhaps, like Elizabeth, this film would do well to introduce us to a fresh, exciting talent. A tall order, I know.
Three other female screenwriters made the Top Ten with decidedly genre entries: Aether (by Krysty Wilson-Cairns) is set in a near future London where a revolutionary technology can record sounds hours after they were made; Situation Comedy (by Cat Vasko) is about a young woman who stumbles into a mysterious courtyard where she is transported into a sitcom-like universe, becoming a major character on this “TV show,” and Tau (by Noga Landau) is about a woman held captive in the futuristic smart house of a serial kidnapper. Sadly, the rest of the list does not bear out that early promise. The full list of 70 scripts shared only features four other scripts written by women.
Do any of these films feel like the next Juno (still the most high profile female-written Black List vetted script)? Do you have any better suggestions as to who would/should play Catherine should Anderson’s film be produced?
Reader Comments (9)
Historical fiction that embraces its fiction (think Marie Antoinette or a Knights Tale, rather than the dreary self seriousness of the King's Speech) is basically the most honest AND entertaining form of history, so three cheers for a delicious Catherine the Great!!!
I have a distinct memory of an actress roundtable a few years back where Anne Hathaway said she wanted to play Catherine the Great.... Personally, I'm not too much a fan, I would rather watch Alicia Vikander play another enlightenment era queen.
I'm personally more excited about Aether or especially Situation Comedy than a biopic of Catherine the Great.
As for who would play Catherine, I think Scarlett Johansson would command a certain charisma worthy of playing royalty.
Let's first mention how disappointing and not surprising it is that so few scripts are by women on this list, a mere 8 out of 70. (sigh) No wonder I still find TV more interesting. As a woman I am better served by The Good Wife, OITNB, etc.
As for who should play Catherine the Great, that's a very interesting question, especially when the last Hollywood version was brought to the screen with Greta Garbo. It needs someone who can convey both beauty and brains. I don't know Swedish actresses well enough, is there an Ingrid Bergman type out there? I loved Kiera Knightly in Anna Karenina but I don't think she would be right for this. Rosamund Pike might be better or Cate Blanchette. I'm a little stumped on this.
The first thought thing I noticed was how many of these screenplays have a female protagonist. This is further evidence of Hollywood's reluctance to produce those movies.
How about Elizabeth Debicki?
john, yes, Debicki is a good choice, I think.
Dietrich was great (huh) as Catherine in The Scarlet Empress.
I think Hathaway might be too old? And what about Garland? Is this still happening?
Maybe Elle Fanning in a few years?
Catherine the Great did a lot in her later years. Maybe the roles would be split between a younger and older actress. If this is the case maybe Anjelica Houston could play the older version.
I know that she is 'old' for the role of Catherine the Great, but I think of Kate Winslet. With Meryl Streep in the role of Elizabeth (the aunt of Pedro, the husband of Catherine).