Black Bear and Artists Equity Team Up with Big Picture Co. for ‘A Woman In The Sun’ Featuring Renée Zellweger, Sissy Spacek, and Mia Threapleton
Black Bear and Artists Equity Collaborate on New Film Featuring Renée Zellweger and Sissy Spacek
Black Bear Pictures and Artists Equity have joined forces to produce the dramatic feature A Woman in the Sun, which stars Renée Zellweger, Sissy Spacek, and rising talent Mia Threapleton.
The film revolves around Claire Keating, a bartender living in Nantucket, who faces a tumultuous month when her mother falls ill and her daughter returns home. As Claire navigates her fragile yet resilient life, she is compelled to confront her past and seize control of her future. This multi-generational narrative delves into the complexities of deep familial love, interweaving beauty, pain, and humor.
Julia Cox, a Writers Guild of America Award nominee known for her work on Black Bear’s Nyad, will spearhead the project as both writer and director. The film is being co-financed by Black Bear and Artists Equity, with Black Bear handling distribution across North America, the UK, and Canada via Elevation Pictures.
Teddy Schwarzman, CEO of Black Bear, expressed his enthusiasm for working with Cox. “As soon as I met Julia, I knew she was destined to be an incredible director,” he said. “With A Woman in the Sun, she has created a 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.”
Zellweger will also serve as a producer alongside Carmella Casinelli for Big Picture Co., and Kim Roth will join them as a producer, with Greg Gertmenian co-producing. Production is scheduled to commence in September 2026, and Black Bear plans to present the film to international buyers at Cannes.
“Championing promising filmmakers like Julia has been central to Big Picture Co’s mission since day one,” Zellweger remarked. “The script is a storytelling treasure, and Julia’s instincts set her apart as an emerging filmmaker. We can’t wait to get started.”
Cox, who also wrote and executive produced Nyad, featuring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster—both of whom received Oscar nominations for their performances—has further showcased her talent with the upcoming film Love of Your Life, directed by Oscar nominee Rachel Morrison.
“This is a moving, gripping exploration of a complex family dynamic,” said Ben Affleck, CEO of Artists Equity. “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 we want to be a part of.”
Renée Zellweger, a two-time Academy Award winner, has previously earned acclaim for her roles in Judy and Cold Mountain. Notable films in her diverse career include Bridget Jones’s Diary, Chicago, Jerry Maguire, Nurse Betty, and Cinderella Man.
Sissy Spacek, a six-time Academy Award nominee, won an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter. Her other nominations were for In the Bedroom, Crimes of the Heart, The River, Missing, and her iconic role in Carrie. Recently, Spacek appeared in Lynne Ramsey’s recognized film Die My Love.
Mia Threapleton is currently filming an untitled project directed by Damien Chazelle and has been recognized for her performances in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, as well as in Apple TV’s The Buccaneers and Starz’s Dangerous Liaisons.
Representatives for this project include CAA, Project D Media, Aloft Strategic Communications, and Ziffren Brittenham for Cox; CAA and Imprint PR for Zellweger; UTA and MGMT Entertainment for Spacek; and CAA and Markham, Froggatt and Irwin for Threapleton.
