Renée Zellweger to star alongside Sissy Spacek in new family drama
Julia Cox is transitioning from acclaimed writer to world-class director this year
- Renée Zellweger and Sissy Spacek will headline the multi-generational drama directed by Julia Cox.
- Mia Threapleton joins the cast as the daughter of Zellweger’s character, Claire Keating.
- Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity and Black Bear are co-financing the Nantucket-based project.
Academy Award winners Renée Zellweger and Sissy Spacek are set to join forces with Mia Threapleton for the upcoming film A Woman in the Sun.
The project marks the directorial debut of Julia Cox, the acclaimed writer behind Nyad. The narrative is a multi-generational exploration revolving around Claire Keating, a Nantucket bartender whose world unravels when her mother falls ill and her daughter, played by Threapleton, returns home. Zellweger is also producing the project via her Big Picture Co. banner.
"Championing promising filmmakers like Julia has been central to Big Picture Co’s mission since day one," Zellweger stated. She described the script as a "storytelling treasure" and praised Cox’s unique instincts.
The production is being co-financed by Black Bear and Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity. Affleck, serving as CEO, remarked, "Julia has proven herself as a writer, and I’m certain A Woman in the Sun will show the film world she’s equally gifted in the director’s chair." He noted that the film offers a "gripping exploration of a complex family dynamic."
Black Bear CEO Teddy Schwarzman echoed this sentiment, asserting that Cox is "destined to be an incredible director."
The film will be introduced to international buyers at the Cannes Film Festival. Previously, Zellweger won Oscars for Cold Mountain and Judy, while Spacek earned hers for Coal Miner's Daughter.
This collaboration brings together three generations of acting talent, including Threapleton, who is the daughter of Kate Winslet. Future production dates are expected to be announced following the festival.