When most people think about the history of reality TV, there are some chapters they forget. For example, before today's best reality competition shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race began, The Dating Game featured real people competing for a date.
Since Netflix premieres shows featuring A-list celebrities and movies with huge film stars, it makes sense the streaming service will feature Anna Kendrick's directorial debut. However, the thing that fans of the famous and rich Anna Kendrick wouldn't expect is what her directorial debut is about. After all, Anna chose to direct and star in a movie that shines light on the most disturbing episode of The Dating Game.
Anna's Directorial Debut Focuses On A Grisly Crime Spree
Throughout Anna Kendrick's acting career, she has mostly become known for starring in movies that families can watch together. For example, Anna has starred in the Pitch Perfect and Trolls franchises as well as movies like Noelle, Into the Woods, and ParaNorman. That said, Anna has pushed the envelope a little bit more with some of her roles. Some of the edgier movies that Anna has starred in include Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, The Accountant, and End of Watch.
Even though she has starred in movies with more dramatic and edgy themes, it would be surprising to see Anna star in certain kinds of movies. More than that, most of her fans will be shocked that the first movie that Anna decided that she needed to direct focuses on a grisly and terrifying true crime story.
On October 18, 2024, Anna's directorial debut movie, Woman Of The Hour, is set to be released on Netflix.
In addition to directing Woman Of The Hour, Anna Kendrick also executive produced the movie. However, that wasn't the first time Anna got that credit. IMDb states that Anna also executive produced the shows Human Discoveries, Dummy, and Love Life, as well as the movies Stowaway and Alice, Darling.
Set during the 1970s, Woman Of The Hour stars Anna Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw and Daniel Zovatto as Rodney Alcala.
Anna Kendrick Is Extremely Secretive About Her Relationships But Here's What We Do Know About Her Love Life
Anna Kendrick doesn't talk about her relationships often, but when she does, fans really listen...
For anyone who doesn't follow television history or true crime, the names Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala likely won't mean much.
After it premiered in 1965 with Chuck Barris hosting, The Dating Game quickly became a hit. As a result, the show's original run lasted almost a decade until 1974.
However, Rodney and Cheryl were at the center of the most infamous reality show episode of all time.
In 1978, Cheryl appeared on The Dating Game where she was supposed to find love by choosing from three bachelors. A spiritual precursor to the Netflix reality show Love Is Blind, The Dating Game featured one person choosing from three singles they couldn't see.
Tragically for Cheryl, Rodney was one of the men that she had to choose from. Worse yet, Cheryl was charmed enough by Rodney that she chose him as the man she would go on a date with. However, as a 2016 BBC article revealed, Cheryl found Rodney "creepy" and refused to go on a date with him, which may have saved her life.
Anna Kendrick Still Thinks She's Better At Acting Than Singing, Even After Pitch Perfect
Anna Kendrick is known for her singing and acting abilities, but she's made it clear which of the two she believes she's better at.
It was later discovered that Rodney had committed a series of grisly crimes. That is why their episode of The Dating Game is so infamous, since Rodney would later be found guilty of taking the lives of seven people.
After being put on trial in more than one state for taking people's lives, Rodney Alcala was sentenced to capital punishment in 1986. However, Rodney had to be put on trial for the same crimes a total of three times after his previous convictions were overturned. While Rodney was sentenced to capital punishment all three times, he passed away from natural causes in July 2021, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
That said, a 2023 People article about Rodney revealed that the authorities believe that he likely took the lives of a lot more people.
On top of the fact that Woman Of The Hour will focus on such a sad and disgusting true crime story, there is another reason to be surprised that Anna decided to direct it. That reason is that it seems like Woman Of The Hour isn't from a film genre that Anna has a notable history with.
In September 2024, Netflix released the trailer for Woman Of The Hour. Based on that trailer, the movie looks like it may be one of the most frightening thriller movies that has been produced in many years.
| What Are The 10 Best Thriller Movies, According to Screen Rant? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Movie | Year | Rank |
| Shutter Island | 2010 | #10 |
| Get Out | 2017 | #9 |
| The Prestige | 2006 | #8 |
| Oldboy | 2003 | #7 |
| The Silence Of The Lambs | 1991 | #6 |
| The Departed | 2006 | #5 |
| No Country For Old Men | 2007 | #4 |
| Parasite | 2019 | #3 |
| Se7en | 1995 | #2 |
| The Dark Knight | 2008 | #1 |
Before directing and starring in Woman Of The Hour, Anna didn't really have any history in the thriller genre. On top of that, Anna hasn't really starred in any shows or movies that were designed to frighten viewers.
Anna Kendrick's Pitch Perfect Co-Star Helped Convince Her To Direct Woman Of The Hour
In September 2024, Entertainment Weekly published an article looking at what led to Anna Kendrick directing Woman Of The Hour. While talking to the outlet, Anna explained she was initially only going to star in and produce Woman Of The Hour. Then, the movie's director dropped out and Anna's career changed forever.
Competition Between Kristen Bell And Anna Kendrick Might Have Ruined A Potential Friendship
The need to walk on eggshells around each other may have ended now that the air has been cleared.
As the film's producer, Anna was involved in the search that was going on to try to find a director. As she explained to EW, that search was going on for two days before the thought occurred to Anna that she could direct the movie. However, that doesn't mean that Anna was comfortable with that thought.
"I just found myself having this absolutely terrifying thought — it was physically bubbling up, and I kept trying to shove it back down—which was like, 'Well, what if I pitched myself to direct the movie?'" When her co-producers asked if she was serious, she remembers, "I was very much like, 'Oh, no.' I can't think of any movie of mine that, if the beginning was around the corner and we didn't have a director, I would've raised my hand."
After she initially didn't fight to direct Woman Of The Hour, that changed. As Anna explained to EW, a conversation with her friend and Pitch Perfect co-star Brittany Snow inspired her to believe she really could direct the movie.
"I spoke to Brittany Snow on the phone, and she, in a very role-reversal way of our relationship, gave me the most casual pep talk, which was literally in a very flat voice: 'You'll get on set, and you'll know what to do. And it was just like, 'Yeah, okay.' That's usually how I find myself talking to her, and I think I was expecting this flowery, long pep talk, and she so cut to the chase that I was like, 'Okay, damn girl. I'll just figure it out, I guess.'"
Based on how stellar the trailer for Woman Of The Hour is, it certainly seems like Britanny knew what she was talking about.
