The line between film and television has long since been obliterated, but it’s still interesting to me that after winning her second Oscar, Renée Zellweger has turned to the small screen for her follow-up performances. She’s currently starring in NBC’sThe Thing About Pamas murderess Pam Hupp—this is the series that required Zellweger todon a fat suit, which, in this day and age, just hire a plus-size actor, they exist, they’re talented, stop doing this—and will next be starring inAvenger Field, a drama series for Peacock about the World War II-era aviatrixes known as the WASPs. Zellweger will play Jackie Cochran, who was the first woman to break the sound barrier and headed the WASPs during the war. The series is said to be “in the vein ofHidden Figures”.
Zellweger is a producer on bothThe Thing About PamandAvenger Fieldthrough her company, Big Picture Co. In the wake of Reese Witherspoonselling her production company, Hello Sunshine, for half a billion dollars, I wonder if this is the new playbook. Especially in the Hungry Hungry Hippos content market of the peak streaming era that seems like a viable path for the people who have the access to get shows and movies greenlit. Renée Zellweger is going to work anyway, why not make that work for her, twice over? Reese Witherspoon not only burnished her reputation as an actor and producer with her Hello Sunshine projects, she made a f-ck off fortune, too. Like, if you don’t want a lifestyle brand or a skincare line, do you start a production company, make some high-end dramas, and then sell it off?
Attached - Renée atThe Thing About Pampremiere the other day in New York.
