Oscar winners Renée Zellweger and Sissy Spacek will star with rising talent Mia Threapleton in “A Woman in the Sun.” Black Bear and Artist Equity have partnered with Zellweger’s Big Picture Co. on the drama, which marks the directorial debut of “Nyad” writer Julia Cox. Black Bear will introduce the project to international buyers at Cannes.
Zellweger is producing the project alongside Carmella Casinelli (for Big Picture Co.) and Kim Roth, with Greg Gertmenian co-producing. Production is slated to begin in September 2026.
“Championing promising filmmakers like Julia has been central to Big Picture Co’s mission since day one, and we’re thrilled to be part of this very special project and the team who will help realize Julia’s vision,” said Zellweger. “The script is a storytelling treasure, and Julia’s instincts set her apart as an emerging filmmaker. We can’t wait to get started.”
“A Woman in the Sun” follows a month in the life of Claire Keating, a bartender on Nantucket and part of the island’s dwindling middle class. When her mother gets sick and her daughter moves home, Claire’s world cracks open. Both fragile and tough, Claire must reckon with her past and take ownership of her future. This multi-generational story explores the beauty, agony, and hilarity of loving other people deeply.
Black Bear and Artists Equity are co-financing the project, with Black Bear set to distribute the film in North America and the UK, as well as in Canada via Elevation Pictures.
“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. This is a moving, gripping exploration of a complex family dynamic with something lurking beneath the surface,” said Ben Affleck, CEO of Artists Equity, in a statement about the partnership.
“And behind the scenes, we’ve got a tremendous partner in Black Bear,” Affleck continued. “For us, this is about finding meaningful ways to invest in filmmakers at every stage of their journey, and projects like this are exactly the kind of work we want to be a part of. We’re looking forward to bringing this film to life.”
The movie project reunites Cox and Black Bear following the success of 2023’s “Nyad,” which earned two Academy Award nominations and a WGA nod for Cox.
“As soon as I met Julia, I knew she was destined to be an incredible director, and working with her closely on ‘Nyad’ only strengthened my belief in her as an artist and leader,” said Black Bear CEO Teddy Schwarzman. “With ‘A Woman in the Sun,’ she has created that perfect vehicle to transition from acclaimed writer to world-caliber director. The story is both singular and universal, and Julia will no doubt capture unforgettably rich performances from Renée, Sissy, and Mia.”
He added: “Black Bear is honored to back this powerful film alongside our good friends at Artists Equity, and we can’t wait to share it with audiences soon.”
Cox is represented by CAA, Project D Media, Aloft Strategic Communications, and Ziffren Brittenham; Zellweger is represented by CAA and Imprint PR; Spacek is represented by UTA and MGMT Entertainment; and Threapleton is represented by CAA and Markham, Froggatt and Irwin.