Following Disney chief Bob Iger’s very recent admission that the company had quietly canceled several projects that they didn’t wholeheartedly believe in the last few months amid belt-tightening and scaling back, a picture of what some of those projects might be is starting to emerge.

In an in-depth piece from The Wrap about soon-to-be-former Disney executive Sean Bailey and his legacy— exiting after 15 years as the motion picture group’s president of production, a big shake-up in the company— some details of what may have already been put out to pasture are becoming more apparent.

Continue reading Sarah Polley No Longer Directing Disney’s Live-Action ‘Bambi’ Adaptation Amid Disney Changes at The Playlist.

Still fresh off her Academy Award for Best Screenplay for 2022’s “Women Talking,” (which was also nominated for Best Picture), Canadian writer/director Sarah Polley may have found her next gig. However, it’ll be one that surprises and possibly shocks some. Polley will be writing and directing a live-action adaptation of the animated “Bambi” story for Disney.

The move may surprise those that know Polley for her indie  and dramatic work, films like “Take This Waltz,” the documentary “Stories We Tell,” last year’s aforementioned “Women Talking,” and the Academy Award-nominated “Away From Her.”

READ MORE: ‘Women Talking’ Director Sarah Polley Developing A Film Inspired By Her Awards Season Run

You could call it the Barry Jenkins “get that bag” move if you’re cynical (he’s gone from beloved indies to directing a—presumably highly-lucrative— live-action prequel adaptation of Disney’s “The Lion King.

Continue reading ‘Bambi’: Sarah Polley To Direct Live-Action Musical Adaptation Of Animated Classic For Disney at The Playlist.

Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley won the Best Adapted Screenplay award last night for “Women Talking,” her fourth feature-length film. The award was her second Oscar nomination and first win— she was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay before for her feature-length debut, “Away From Her” in 2008. So she’s been down this road before, and this isn’t her first awards season rodeo. But still, something must be different about this go-round doing the Oscar campaigning circuit, as the actor-turned-writer/director said the experience has marked her so much she’s now developing a project based on her 2022/2023 awards season.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’ Director Sarah Polley Developing A Film Inspired By Her Awards Season Run at The Playlist.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director, and actor Sarah Polley was tasked with writing the cinematic adaptation of the best-selling novel “Women Talking” by Miriam Toews. The book is inspired by real events involving Mennonite women and girls who are repeatedly abused by men in their religious colony. Polley spoke in a featurette about how the novel was a valuable resource. “Miriam Toews’ book had a very profound impact on me.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’: Director Sarah Polley On Forgiveness & The Guiding Principles Of Her Acclaimed New Drama at The Playlist.

If you look at “Women Talking” on paper, it automatically piques interest. The film is directed by Sarah Polley, produced by Brad Pitt, and stars Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand. Usually, when the material and people involved look amazing there’s a little hint of skepticism from audiences as they question, “Will this or can this actually be as good as we think it will be?” Thankfully, “Women Talking” is a film that does meet that expectation.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’ Exclusive Clip: Ben Whishaw & Rooney Mara’s Chemistry Shines In Sarah Polley’s Harrowing Film at The Playlist.

When we caught up last Spring, Claire Foy was thoroughly engaged and enthusiastic about her work in “A Very British Scandal.” But when I asked her about her then-upcoming role in Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” her eyes lit up like fireworks on the river Thames. And we certainly know why now. Polley’s critically acclaimed drama has already been honored by AFI, the National Board of Review and will land the Robert Altman ensemble honor from the Spirit Awards next year.

Continue reading Claire Foy: “Very, Very Rare” That Something Like ‘Women Talking’ Comes Your Way [Interview] at The Playlist.

You’re not going to find Ben Whishaw in a fashion photo spread these days. He’s not one to crash a red carpet or find a way to get a DeuxMoi mention either. No, Whishaw just keeps doing his thing and crushing it. Great role after great role. Superb performance after superb performance. He’s already an Emmy, Golden Globe, and two-time BAFTA Award winner, and, just last month, he took home a Gotham Award (in a very competitive field) for his role in the acclaimed BBC and AMC series “This is Going to Hurt.” Oh, and he earned a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for that as well.

Continue reading Ben Whishaw’s Amazing Year Continues With ‘Women Talking’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Do nothing. Stay and fight. Or leave? That’s the central question posed by director Sarah Polley’s new film, “Women Talking,” which features an all-star cast. Starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand, “Women Talking” centers on the aftermath of violence and manipulation. The women of a religious Mennonite community learn that they have been systematically raped over months by the men in their community, using a form of ether that would make them confused and delirious when they awoke the following day, bruised, battered, and bleeding.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’ Trailer: Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley & More Lead Sarah Polley’s New Drama at The Playlist.

The Oscar race officially started after the Telluride Film Festival, which took place early last month. While films like Sam Mendes’ “Empire Of Light” created a lot of buzz, perhaps no film had people talking like Sarah Polley’s upcoming drama, “Women Talking” (read our review). For one, the film is jam-packed with stars who were likely dying to appear in a movie by the Academy Award-nominated Polley, a favorite among filmmakers and actors.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’ Trailer: Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley & Claire Foy Lead Sarah Polley’s New Acclaimed Drama at The Playlist.

Is any race for a nomination in this category moot? Has Steven Spielberg already won it for his personal, Hollywood industry-friendly drama “The Fabelmans”? Possibly, but not probably. The Director’s branch of the Academy has become one of the most international of all the branches. It’s also one of the smaller branches which means that diversity seriously skews its nominations. In fact, last year Spielberg was one of just two American-born nominees.

Continue reading Best Director Oscars 2023 Predictions And Contenders at The Playlist.

TELLURIDE – The events at a secluded Mennonite colony in Bolivia during the late ‘00s spurred headlines around the world. Men from the extremely conservative religious group had raped multiple women in their community while they slept. They got away with it for years by using an anesthetic used for cows that rendered their victims helpless. When the women woke up in pain or accused any men in the community of violating them, they were framed as being “hysterical” and imagining things.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’ Review: Jessie Buckley Leads A Stellar Cast In Sarah Polley’s Tense Drama [Telluride] at The Playlist.

It’s NYFF day. OK, yes, earlier today, we were honored to premiere the trailer for the 60th New York Film Festival. Following that update, we got word about NYFF’s Spotlight section and new world premieres added to the festival, including Maria Schrader‘s drama “She Said,” starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, detailing the New York Times investigation that uncovered decades of sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood.

Continue reading First Look: Sarah Polley’s ‘Women Talking’ Starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand & More at The Playlist.

Claire Foy will tell you she’s played her fair share of historical figures on both the big and small screens. From her Emmy and SAG Award-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Crown” to Janet Armstrong in “First Man” to, more recently, Emily Richardson-Wain in “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.” But the challenge of portraying the utterly complex Margaret Campbell, the Duchess of Argyll, in “A Very British Scandal” another matter entirely

READ MORE: “A Very British Scandal” Review: Paul Bettany and Claire Foy battle it out as a divorcing Duke and Duchess

The daughter of a successful businessman, Campbell married Ian Douglas Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll (Paul Bettany) in 1951.

Continue reading Claire Foy Revisits ‘A Very British Scandal’ & Teases Sarah Polley’s ‘Women Talking’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

For many film fans, even those who love Terry Gilliam, “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen” isn’t much more than a cult classic film. Even though it was meant to be a huge blockbuster, the film bombed upon its theatrical release and has been a bit forgotten over the decades since its 1988 release, as other Gilliam ventures garnered more acclaim. But for Sarah Polley, she’ll never, ever forget ‘Baron Muchausen’ and the trauma she felt while making the film.

Continue reading Sarah Polley Blames Terry Gilliam For “Traumatizing Experience” While Filming ‘Baron Munchausen at The Playlist.

Back in December, it was announced that Frances McDormand (who basically only appears in Oscar-nominated films) is set to join the upcoming film, “Women Talking,” from director Sarah Polley. As if it isn’t exciting enough to have McDormand and Polley working together on a new film, the news was made even sweeter today as the rest of the main cast was announced, featuring some truly great talents.

Continue reading ‘Women Talking’: Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy & More Join Frances McDormand In Sarah Polley’s New Feature at The Playlist.

It’s been eight years since filmmaker and Academy Award-nominee Sarah Polley made a feature-length film (2012’s incredible “Stories We Tell,” which we put high on our list of the Best Documentaries of the last decade). To be fair, she wrote and executive-produced 2017’s mini-series “Alias Grace“ and finally resurfaced this year directing episodes of CBC Comedy short series “Hey Lady!” But she’s back for real in the feature space and teaming up with a bevy of talent.

Continue reading Frances McDormand Teams With Director Sarah Polley For ‘Women Talking’ Film at The Playlist.

Just last week, the Sundance Film Festival announced the first wave of films that will be screened at the annual event. And even though that was a hefty list with some huge projects, the festival is not slowing down with the reveals.

Sundance has just announced the projects that make up the Indie Episodic, Shorts, and Special Events sections of the festival. These selections are part of the Sundance Institute’s commitment to showcasing the best in independent storytelling regardless of form, format or length.

Continue reading Sundance Announces Lineup For Indie Episodic, Shorts, & Special Events Sections Including Films From Sarah Polley & Nanette Burstein at The Playlist.

With TV being an increasing presence at films festivals these days, it can only makes sense that “Alias Grace,” a show based on a book by arguably Canada’s greatest living novelist, based on a famous true Canadian murder case, co-produced by national broadcaster CBC, and directed and written by two of their top film talents, would be the prize of the TIFF TV selection.

The second major small-screen adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s work this year after the hit “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Alias Grace” adapts her 1996 novel about the famous 1843 murders in Upper Canada of a wealthy man and his housekeeper at the hands of two of their servants, with “American Psycho” helmer Mary Harron directing, and Sarah Polley writing the screenplay.

Continue reading Full Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Alias Grace’ Starring Sarah Gadon & Anna Paquin at The Playlist.

The Toronto International Film Festival is now less than a month away, but the festival that might well be the world’s biggest, at least in terms of sheer volume, is continuing to add to its line-up. It already has a formidable selection announced, and today added to that with its selection of Canadian programming.

Speculation that Xavier Dolan’s “The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan” might premiere in the sidebar ultimately came to naught, but there’s still at least one major treat, with the first screening of Netflix and CBC’s upcoming miniseries adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s “Alias Grace,” from writer Sarah Polley and director Mary Harron, and starring Sarah Gadon and Anna Paquin.

Continue reading Toronto Film Fest Adds Sarah Polley & Mary Harron’s ‘Alias Grace’; More at The Playlist.

Hulu hit a homerun this spring with its first foray into prestige television, the superb adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” And now, Netflix is getting into the Atwood adaptation game.

Based on the author’s award-winning 1996 novel of the same name, “Alias Grace” is inspired by the true story of Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), a servant in Upper Canada who was accused, alongside James McDermott (Kerr Logan), of the notorious 1843 murders of her employer, wealthy farmer Thomas Kinnear (Paul Gross), and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery (Anna Paquin).

Continue reading First Trailer For Netflix’s Margaret Atwood Adaptation ‘Alias Grace’ at The Playlist.

This spring, Hulu‘s stunning adaptation of Margaret Atwood‘s “The Handmaid’s Tale” has become one of the major television talking points among critics and audiences, and the good news for both is that another one of the author’s works is coming to the small screen, and it also looks like it’ll pack a wallop.

Penned by Sarah Polley (“Away From Her,” “Take This Waltz“) and directed by Mary Harron (“American Psycho“), Netflix‘s “Alias Grace” is inspired by the true story of Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), a young, poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who — along with stable hand James McDermott (Kerr Logan) — finds herself accused and convicted of the infamous 1843 murders of her employer, wealthy farmer Thomas Kinnear (Paul Gross), and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery (Anna Paquin).

Continue reading First Look: Netflix’s Margaret Atwood Adaptation ‘Alias Grace,’ Written By Sarah Polley & Directed By Mary Harron at The Playlist.

Sarah Polley has hit an enviable creative groove. After the director caught everyone’s attention with 2006’s “Away From Her,” she pivoted to the messy but emotionally affecting “Take This Waltz,” and then delivered the terrific, genre-pushing documentary “Stories We Tell.” She’s currently at work on delivering her TV series adaptation of Margaret Atwood‘s “Alias Grace” for Netflix, and now has a new feature cooking which sounds right in her wheelhouse.

Continue reading Sarah Polley To Direct ‘The Best Kind Of People’ at The Playlist.

We kind of love of it when directors turn up giving acting performances. Whether it’s someone like Sydney Pollack or Spike Jonze, who virtually have side careers cropping up in other people’s films, or a more unexpected and occasional appearance like Francois Truffaut in “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” or Werner Herzog in “Jack Reacher,” it tends to give us a little meta-thrill every time.

Continue reading David Cronenberg Takes Acting Role In Sarah Polley’s Netflix Series ‘Alias Grace’ at The Playlist.

It’s perfectly clear that we don’t get enough Sarah Polley in our lives. The “Sweet Hereafter” and “Dawn Of The Dead” star isn’t often seen in front of the camera these days —she hasn’t made a movie since 2010— but that’s because she’s been busy with a burgeoning career as a filmmaker. After her powerful directorial debut “Away From Her” won rave reviews (and Julie Christie an Oscar nomination), Polley followed up with the bruising relationship drama “Take This Waltz” and then the wonderful autobiographical documentary “Stories We Tell.”

She hasn’t directed a movie since, though she’s been busy with screenwriting jobs, including John Green adaptation “Looking For Alaska” and a new version of “Little Women.” But we’re about to get a lot more of her work, as Netflix has announced a partnership with CBC to present Polley’s long-developing six-hour miniseries adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s “Alias Grace.”

Published in 1996 and winner of the Giller Prize, the book tells the story of a doctor researching the murder of Thomas Kinnear and housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in Canada in 1843 by their servants James McDermott and Grace Marks (after whom the book is named).

Continue reading Netflix Picks Up Sarah Polley & Mary Harron’s Miniseries Adaptation Of Margaret Atwood’s ‘Alias Grace’ at The Playlist.

It’s been far too long since we’ve had a movie from Sarah Polley. The actress turned filmmaker made her mark with 2006’s “Away From Her,” followed it up with the underrated relationship/break up movie “Take This Waltz,” and the delivered the personal and deeply moving documentary “Stories We Tell.” That was four years ago. But the good news is she’s back behind the camera this summer, with a project that’s going to give us plenty to dive into.

Continue reading Sarah Polley Begins Shooting 6-Hour Miniseries ‘Alias Grace’ This Summer at The Playlist.