Elisabeth Moss and Susan Sarandon will star alongside each other in women’s rights drama Call Jane.
The Handmaid’s Tale actress will lead the film in the role of Joy and serve as producer under her Unburdened Entertainment banner alongside Dallas Buyers Club producer Robbie Brenner.
The film, which will be directed by Sian Heder, who has helmed episodes of GLOW and Orange is the New Black, follows a traditional ’60s American housewife who is desperate for a child. After she falls pregnant and discovers complications which will threaten her life, she stumbles upon the Janes, an underground abortion movement led by Virginia, to be played by Sarandon. The Janes save her life and give her a new sense of purpose: to help other women take control of their destinies.
“I’m so excited to be bringing this beautiful script to life with Sian and Robbie and to be working with Susan, who I admire tremendously,” Moss said in a statement. “The Jane Collective is an important and fascinating part of our history, especially for women. We see their story unfold through the eyes of Joy, a complex character who represents many women caught between one period of time and the next.
“It’s also frighteningly relevant and timely to be telling this story right now and I know, with Sian at the helm, it’s going to be an honest and brave film.”
Brenner added, “I have no doubt that Sian will craft a beautiful and important film with our dedicated and amazing cast, Elisabeth and Susan.”
The film has been written by Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi, who will also serve as executive producers.
Call Jane is currently in the pre-production phase, and executives at Protagonist Pictures, who have the international rights, will introduce the movie to buyers at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, Germany this February (19).
