Ava DuVernay
Yes, Ava DuVernay is the woman director whose name is on everyone’s lips at the moment – but there’s very good reason for that. Having worked her way up the directorial ladder with a combination of documentary films and self-scripted drama, Ava DuVernay hit widespread critical acclaim with 2014’s Selma – her first multi-million dollar budget movie. Indeed, that pic turned a $20 million investment into $66.7 million in box office receipts, while earning two Oscar nominations – and one win. It also brought her the title of being the first black woman to be nominated for a Best Director Golden Globe.
Following this huge success, DuVernay returned to documentary, with the Oscar nominated 13th, and then created the award winning television show, Queen Sugar. Now, all eyes are on the multiplexes, as she delivers her cinematic adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s popular fantasy adventure novel, A Wrinkle In Time. DuVernay was hired by Disney to take the helm of the film – the adapted screenplay of which is written by Jennifer Lee, of Frozen fame – making it her first movie budget over $100 million.
The advance word on A Wrinkle In Time – releasing on March 9th – is highly favourable, and many are anticipating that it will showcase DuVernay’s ability to weave a character focused tale through a landscape of visually stunning shots, with a tight approach to the bigger narrative picture. All of those elements combine to make her the perfect candidate for a Star Wars movie.