She Said: Release Date, Cast, And More
In 2017, the New York Times broke the story heard round the world: Harvey Weinstein had been assaulting and harassing women for decades. Several women put themselves on the line by sharing their experiences and many more would follow. This article helped propel the #MeToo movement (though activist Tarana Burke coined the phrase much earlier) into existence, forever altering both the entertainment industry and the world at large.
Obviously we still have a long way to go, but there's no denying the incredible impact the New York Times story has had. The harrowing behind-the-scenes journey is chronicled in "She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement," written by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor. These two reporters managed to finally unearth the truth of what had, up until that point, been little more than quickly-silenced whispers.
"She Said" won't be the first book on the subject to be adapted in some form. Less than a week after Twohey and Kantor's article was published, Ronan Farrow wrote a piece for the New Yorker in which several more women were brave enough to relay their stories (he would later follow up with another piece). Farrow covered his investigation in his book "Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators," which has been made into a podcast and an HBO series about said podcast. Having read both books, I can say that although these two publications had the same goal of bringing down Weinstein, their stories are quite different. So, what do we know about the film adaptation of "She Said" so far?
She Said Release Date and Where To Watch It
"She Said" is set to release November 18, 2022. Although much still remains uncertain within the film industry, as of now the film will have a theatrical release. So, where will "She Said" land after that window? The answer is a little confusing.
The Verge reported that following a stint in theaters, Universal films will head straight to NBCUniversal's streaming service, Peacock, within four months of their theatrical premieres. They will be available there exclusively during that time, as well as the last four months of the 18 month pay-one window. However, during the ten months in the middle, the films will head to Amazon Prime. "She Said" will probably follow this model, so if you miss it in theaters, you can catch it elsewhere — once you figure out which platform it's actually on.
What Is She Said About?
Based on the book "She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement," the film will detail how two New York Times reporters were responsible for finally bringing Harvey Weinstein's long-hidden misdeeds to light. Together, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor broke the story about the now-disgraced movie mogul's many allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
Thankfully the Weinstein Company co-chairman, who was recently sentenced to 23 years in prison, will not be the focus of the movie. According to Deadline, "The thrust of the film isn't Weinstein or his scandal. This is about an all-women team of journalists who persevered through threats of litigation and intimidation, told in a procedural manner like 'Spotlight' and 'All the President's Men.'" Considering all the twists and turns of this true story, this is sure to be a compelling film.
She Said Cast and Crew
The exciting cast for "She Said" has come together, with Twohey and Kantor being played by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, respectively. Mulligan was most recently seen in "Promising Young Woman" (for which she earned her second Oscar nomination) and "The Dig." She has previously worked with Kazan, though this will be their first time sharing the screen. Kazan has appeared in films such as "The Big Sick" and "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs." Kantor's husband will be played by Adam Shapiro, whom "Never Have I Ever" fans will recognize as history teacher Mr. Shapiro. Tom Pelphrey ("Ozark") is set to play Twohey's husband.
Deadline reported Patricia Clarkson will portray Rebecca Corbett, the investigations department editor for the New York Times. Clarkson's credits are far too numerous to list here, but the Emmy-winning actress has been featured in shows such as "Six Feet Under" and "Sharp Objects." Andre Braugher is playing Dean Baquet, the executive editor of the New York Times. Another veteran actor, Braugher is probably best known for his role as Raymond Holt in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," which just wrapped its final season. According to THR, "The Walking Dead" star Samantha Morton will be rounding out the cast as Zelda Perkins, one of Weinstein's former assistants.
"She Said" will be directed by Maria Schrader, who helmed Netflix's unforgettable "Unorthodox." Oscar-winner Rebecca Lenkiewicz will pen the script. The film will be produced by Megan Ellison and Sue Naegle for Annapurna. Brad Pitt will also produce for his company, Plan B, along with Jeremy Kleiner, and Dede Gardner. Considering Plan B was behind films such as "12 Years a Slave" and "Moonlight," and how important the subject matter is, it seems safe to say everyone involved will be very invested in doing this riveting story justice.