'Hidden Figures'
Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 5:46PM 
Fox may have a stealth player they are about to drop on the Oscar race. Hidden Figures, from Margot Lee Shetterly's book on this true story, follows a team of African American female mathemeticians that helped NASA's space program put John Glenn into orbit. Talk about a history we don't know nearly enough about, certainly not one we've seen expressed on film.
The cast carries it's own Oscar pedigree with nominee Taraji P. Henson and winner Octavia Spencer, but the standout here might just be musician Janelle Monáe (also coming this season in Moonlight). Her trademark showmanship and wit don't look to be a bit diminished by trying something new - we'll definitely be keeping an eye one her. The film also looks like a possible step up for St. Vincent writer/director Ted Melfi, so could this be a late season crowd pleaser surprise? Take a look at the first trailer:
Filming happened earlier this year, so even its planned wide release on MLK weekend is a sprint to the finish. Fox is confident enough in the film to be scheduling a first look of select footage during the Toronto Film Festival with a concert event led by Pharrell Williams. Sounds like a Christmastime limited release or qulaifying release is definitely on the table - and hopefully is yet another film to represent diversity this year.
Reader Comments (12)
It is receiving a December qualifying release.
I'm psyched about the high number of black-themed film entering the marketplace this fall, I hope they're great, and I'll spend my money at every last one, but it's pretty clear what's going on here, and I hope studios continue releasing them in 2017 when Oscar voters aren't so sensitive about their #sowhiteness.
Relieved! I was excited by the trailer but worried a January release meant it had issues; didn't make the MLK connection. Nonetheless, glad to hear about the December release.
Do I see Kirsten Dunst in this? I hope she has a part bigger than two scenes or as we call it Kristen Wiig in the Martian :S
Mike -- except for that it takes much longer than that to get films through the production cycle. I think we just had an unfortunate coincidence of release dates and films that led to #OscarsSoWhite (these films were all already in production and some were completed already when that became such an issue early this year) but in the end it was probably a good thing as it forced Hollywood to take note.
Rizz -- i'm still confused why big stars take nothing roles or cameos that aren't showcases (like Wiig in the Martian).
i'm still confused why big stars take nothing roles or cameos that aren't showcases (like Wiig in the Martian).
Poor example she wanted to work with Scott. No different than Streep doing voice work for a Wes Anderson animated feature instead of waiting for his next live action movie.
A Paycheque.Maybe it helps her do the more interesting stuff,collect the cash and poor your energies in to better films.
Jekyll /3rtful is right. Not everyone is a big enough star to nab the plum roles in director's they admire and want to work with's films.
This is an incredible and worthwhile story to tell- but lord, that poster is awful.
As a mathematician this looks pretty awful, though it may be fun as opposed to Imitation Game that was dumbed down math and terrible on most levels as well...
This looks like one of those qualifying release titles that doesn't go anywhere Oscar wise. Interesting that Denzel Washington as a director may finally break through with FENCES, because this screams THE GREAT DEBATERS.
Hidden Figures screams The Help, Glenn.