Anna Kendrick Makes Directorial Debut with ‘Woman of the Hour’, a True Story of a Serial Killer

Actress Anna Kendrick has marked a significant milestone in her career with the release of her directorial debut, ‘Woman of the Hour‘. The film, which premiered on October 11, 2024, in limited theaters and will be available on Netflix from October 18, 2024, is based on a true and chilling story.

‘Woman of the Hour’ tells the story of an aspiring actress who crosses paths with a prolific serial killer in 1970s Los Angeles. The twist in the narrative comes from the fact that this serial killer appeared on an episode of the popular game show ‘The Dating Game‘ in 1978. The screenplay was written by Ian MacAllister McDonald, a graduate of Cheverus High School in Maine.

Anna Kendrick not only directs the film but also stars in it, playing the role of Cheryl Bradshaw. The cast includes Tony Hale, Kelley Jakle, Max Lloyd-Jones, and Jedidiah Goodacre. The movie is produced by a team that includes Stephen Crawford, Andrew Deane, Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, Miri Yoon, and Vindhya Sagar, under the banners of BoulderLight Pictures and AGC Studios.

Kendrick has expressed her deep involvement in the project, revealing that she was particularly driven to ensure the film’s bold opening scene was included. She mentioned that she “shocked” herself by fighting for this scene, highlighting her commitment to the project’s vision.

‘Woman of the Hour’ has been praised for its powerful examination of the intersection between systemic misogyny and violence, using the incredible true story as its foundation. The film falls under the genres of crime, drama, and mystery & thriller, and it runs for 1 hour and 29 minutes).