A gripping new thriller from Netflix draws inspiration from real events surrounding a woman who unknowingly connected with a serial predator during a game show, shaping what may be the most outrageous narrative yet.
A recently unveiled trailer for Woman of the Hour paints a haunting picture. In this short video, viewers witness Cheryl Bradshaw, portrayed by Anna Kendrick, experiencing an awkward outing with the notorious Rodney Acala, who is brought to life by Daniel Zovatto.
The directorial debut of Kendrick, this film tells the compelling true story of Cheryl, a contestant on The Dating Game who unexpectedly ended up selecting Acala for a date. Instead of focusing primarily on the murderer, a common trend in true crime storytelling, the plot centers around Cheryl's experience and the unfolding drama of the game show.
Original content from Ian McDonald's screenplay, Rodney and Sheryl, was recognized on the prestigious Black List of unproduced scripts in 2017. In 2021, plans were announced for this project to become a Netflix original, with Chloe Okuno initially tapped to direct and Kendrick in the lead role. However, by 2022, the streaming giant stepped away, leading to the film being showcased at the Cannes Film Festival under the previous title, The Dating Game. Following a successful world premiere at the 2023 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Netflix re-engaged with the project.
Woman of the Hour is set to premiere on Netflix on October 18, 2024. For additional details, explore our list of the most anticipated films heading your way in 2024 and beyond, or take a look at our recommendations for the most outstanding series to stream on Netflix at the moment.