Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron continues to expand her impressive (and perhaps even under-appreciated) oeuvre as a producer. Following her most recent effort with “The Old Guard,” Theron returns to Netflix to produce a feature film centering on the plights and prejudice experienced by competitive female surfers. The picture will be directed by Niki Caro.
According to Deadline, Theron and Caro are teaming up for a film based on Daniel Duane’s New York Times article, “The Fight For Gender Equality In One of the Most Dangerous Sports on Earth.” Originally published in 2019, Duane’s piece follows the specific journeys of four women – Bianca Valenti, Andrea Moller, Paige Alms, and Keala Kennelly – each uniquely striving for equal treatment and opportunity within the competitive surfing scene. Further, Duane’s article profiles the strong bond developed between the four women as they try their hands at some of the most notorious, famous, and dangerous surf spots.
Newcomer Becky Johnston will adapt the article for the silver screen, with Caro at the helm. In the past, Niki Caro has shouldered impressive projects such as “Whale Rider,” “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” and “North Country,” which earned Theron an Oscar nomination in 2006. Caro’s latest outing was last year’s live-action remake of “Mulan,” and she currently has another Netflix feature, “The Mother,” in the works.
Along with this newest surfing project, Theron is also currently developing “Atomic Blonde 2.” Notably, Theron’s producing career spans all the way back to “Monster” in 2003, Patty Jenkin’s Aileen Wuornos pic that won Theron her sole Oscar.
Currently, there is no word on whether or not Theron will also be starring in this latest venture. As of now, she is solely slated to produce, alongside Caro, AJ Dix, and Beth Kono for Denver and Delilah.