You might know Anna Kendrick best from Pitch Perfect and The Twilight Saga, but the actor is back and about to make her directorial debut with Woman of the Hour. Here’s everything we know about the new film, from our first look, the cast, and the true story of a real-life serial killer that it’s based on.
What is Woman of the Hour about?
The film is an adaptation of the true crimes of Rodney Alcala, a man linked to eight murders, but believed to be responsible for many more.
In 1978, he appeared on an episode of The Dating Game, which was essentially like Blind Date, as ‘Bachelor number one’, all the while he was responsible for at least four prior murders that he hadn’t been definitively linked to yet.
Described by the host on the show as a “successful photographer, who, between takes, you mind find sky-diving or motorcycling”, Rodney went on to win a date with his episode’s bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw, played by Anna Kendrick in the film.
After the pair met backstage, Cheryl refused to go on a date with him, telling the Sydney Telegraph in 2012, He was acting really creepy. I turned down his offer. I didn’t want to see him again.”
Who will star in Woman of the Hour?
- Anna Kendrick will play Cheryl Bradshaw, the woman who rejected Rodney’s date
- Daniel Zovatto from The Pope’s Exorcist will play Rodney Alcala
- Max Lloyd-Jones will play Ken, one of the other bachelors
- Tony Hale from Veep will play host Jim Lange
Speaking about making her directorial debut, Anna Kendrick said, “While I was obviously thrilled to be playing the character of Cheryl, I felt so connected to the story, the tone, and the themes around gender and intimacy, that when the opportunity came up to direct the film, I jumped at it.
“It feels meant to be. The support I’ve received already from Stuart Ford and everyone at AGC, Vertigo and BoulderLight has been inspiring and empowering.”
Is there a Woman of the Hour trailer yet?
While there isn’t a trailer yet, Signature Entertainment shared a first look image of the show in mid-August 2023, which shows Anna Kendrick in character as Cheryl. On the other side of the Blind Date-style wall sits Rodney, alongside two other hopefuls.
When will Woman of the Hour be released?
A released date is yet to be confirmed, but fans are hoping it will be sometime in 2023.