Now is the time for female writers and directors in Hollywood to take center stage. This year at the Sundance Film festival over half of the feature films presented were directed by women - roughly fifty-six percent, according to IndieWire. Even with encouraging numbers for content being created by women across all platforms, there is still a huge struggle for women to be recognized for their work, particularly at some of Hollywood's top award ceremonies, including the Academy Awards.
This year there is only one female nominated for Best Director and zero female writers nominated for Original Screenplay. Adapted Screenplay fares better, with three women being nominated for an Oscar. Despite the uphill battle for female creators, there are several films being released in 2022 that were directed by women that are highly anticipated by a wide range of audiences.
Don't Worry Darling - Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde made her directorial debut with the coming-of-age comedy Booksmart. Her newest project is the psychological thriller, Don't Worry Darling, starring Florence Pugh, best known for her role in Black Widow, and Harry Styles. Don't Worry Darling centers around a 1950's housewife and the unraveling of her own reality.
The film began production right as the world began to close down at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and was stalled for years after health-related production issues and casting issues, including the replacement of Shia LeBeouf by Harry Styles (per Screen Rant). With production finally complete, Don't Worry Darling is set for release in September 2022.
Fresh - Mimi Cave
Fresh is a fun, female-driven horror film written by Lauryn Kahn and directed by Mimi Cave. Staring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan, this terrifying ride is the feature film directorial debut of Mimi Cave. Edgar-Jones and Stan have incredible chemistry that immediately hooks the audience before dissolving into disturbing horrors diving deep into the psychology of the film.
The script includes what Kahn describes as "coded language" that uniquely registers with female viewers in a horrifyingly relatable way, from social expectations placed on women to the very real dangers of being vulnerable around men. Fresh is streaming now on Hulu.
Turning Red - Domee Shi
Domee Shi makes her directorial debut with Turning Red, an adorable coming-of-age story starring Rosalie Chiang and Sandra Oh. Like all Pixar films, Turning Red functions on multiple levels telling a fun story about main character perfectionist Mei who discovers her family's unusual secret history of turning into red pandas, while also showcasing the awkward reality of puberty that all teenagers experience.
Turning Red applies understandable vehicles for often uncomfortable subjects that will hopefully open doors for children and parents to have those much-needed open discussions about the realities of growing up. Turning Red is streaming now on Disney +. Those who enjoy the film can follow Turning Red's voice cast on Instagram.
Marry Me - Kat Coiro
Marry Me is a return to the classic rom-com formula that seems more suited for the early 2000s than 2022. The story revolves around the implausible pairing of superstar Kat Valdez, a role played well by Jennifer Lopez, and normal every guy Charlie, portrayed by Owen Wilson.
Marry Me is like a warm blanket and cozy fire that requires a little suspension of belief from the audience, but an enjoyable ride. The film was written by John Rogers, Harper Dill, and Tami Sagher. Sagher's impressive writing credits include How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, and Psych. Director Kat Coiro is set to direct Marvel's upcoming She-Hulk series. Marry Me is in theaters now.
Where the Crawdads Sing - Olivia Newman
The 2022 adaptation of Delia Owen's popular thriller, Where the Crawdads Sing, is directed by Olivia Newman and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Harris Dickinson. The thriller follows Kya, the town recluse, who becomes the center of a murder investigation after a handsome stranger is found dead.
The film is being produced by Reese Whitherspoon's company Hello Sunshine, which she created to promote female filmmakers. Olivia Newman's directorial credits include episodes of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. Where the Crawdads Sing is set for release in July.
Hocus Pocus 2 - Anne Fletcher
The Sanderson sisters are officially set to return this October on Disney + in Hocus Pocus 2, nearly thirty years after their Halloween debut. The youngest Sanderson sister is one of Sarah Jessica Parker's best roles so it's no surprise she's returning alongside Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy to star as the fiendish witches up to no good. Doug Jones also returns to reprise his role as Billy Butcherson.
The film has been stalled in production for years and has switched multiple directors at the helm before landing with Anne Fletcher. Fletcher has a long list of directing credits to her name including Dumplin', The Proposal, 27 Dresses, Step Up, and more. The film will follow three female high school students who bring back the sisters to modern Salem and must stop them. Hocus Pocus 2 will stream exclusively on Disney + this Halloween.
Emily - Frances O'Connor
Emily chronicles the tragically short life of British writer Emily Bronte, author of "Wuthering Heights." Emily is written and directed by Frances O'Connor. The film stars Emma Mackey as the titular character and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. The biopic is a celebration of a non-conformist female creator who defied social conventions to forge her own path.
Director Frances O'Connor, known for her roles in Mansfield Park, Artificial Intelligence, and The Conjuring 2, has moved from in front of the camera to behind it for her directorial and screenwriting debut. Emily is set for release in 2022, but no date has been announced.
Flamin' Hot - Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria will make her feature directorial debut with a biopic that tells the true story of the creator of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Despite sounding like an SNL sketch, Flamin' Hot is a passion project for Longoria who was inspired by the story of Richard Montanez, the Frito-Lay employee who supposedly created the popular spicy chip.
There is already plenty of controversy over how much of the story, if any, is accurate, and Frito-Lay has issued a statement disputing Montanez's involvement with the chip, as reported by Today. Flamin' Hot stars Tony Shalhoub, Dennis Haysbert, and Emilio Rivera. No set date has been announced, though it is believed the film will be released in 2022.
Persuasion - Carrie Cracknell
With the popularity of Shonda Rhimes's adaptation of Bridgerton and Autumn de Wilde's adaptation of Emma, it is no surprise that an adaption of Jane Austen's novel "Persuasion" is in the works for Netflix. Dakota Johnson stars as Anne Elliott and Cosmo Jarvis as Captain Frederick Wentworth.
The film is billed as a period-accurate adaptation about Anne Elliott's second chance for love with Captain Wentworth. Carrie Cracknell has had a long career in theater, but Persuasion will be her feature film debut. Persuasion is set to stream exclusively on Netflix this year though no specific date has been announced yet.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Kasi Lemmons
Ten years after the death of Whitney Houston, Kasi Lemmons is set to direct a biopic of the artist who was one of the biggest superstars of all time. I Wanna Dance with Somebody is named after one of Houston's most popular songs. Naomi Ackie is set to star as the singer. Her credits include Doctor Who, Lady Macbeth, and Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Stella Meghie was originally attached to the project as director, but over the course of production changes, including a studio acquisition of the project by TriStar Pictures, Lemmons replaced Meghie at the helm of the film (per Deadline). I Wanna Dance with Somebody is set for release in December 2022.