More than 30 years after she made her most famous dash across America in Thelma & Louise, two-time Oscar winner Geena Davis has lined up another wild road trip movie with Cowgirl’s Last Ride.
The comedy adventure was originally announced back in 2019, but has now taken shape, with Scoot McNairy (Argo, 12 Years a Slave), Julia Sweeney (Saturday Night Live, Pulp Fiction) and Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Get On Up) joining the cast and Hanway Film launching sales at the upcoming American Film Market.
Described as a “comedic odyssey set against the vast landscapes of rural Texas,” the story follows retired Texas cowgirl Fay (Davis), who escapes her Dallas nursing home and journey’s back towards her native East Texas, first in a in a stolen pickup truck then on a horse, on a ride of rediscovery to reconnect with her former self, all while in hot pursuit by her more conventional — and deeply concerned son Randall (McNairy).
Cowgirl’s Last Ride is the latest production from Susan Cartsonis and Suzanne Farwell, the powerhouse producers responsible for some of the highest-grossing female-driven films of all time such as What Women Want and The Holiday. The two will produce with their Resonate Entertainment partner, Brent Emery, with whom they made the recent Amazon hit Sitting in Bars With Cake.
The film will be directed by Leena Yadav, working from a script by eighth-generation Texan and performer Kris Hunt. Yadav’s debut feature film Parched premiered at Toronto in 2015 and became a festival favourite. She’s since seen her 2018 BFI London Film festival title Rajma Chawal Was snapped up by Netflix and been part of the Tell It Like a Woman anthology film.
“Collaborating with the producers of some of the greatest female-driven films of all time and getting Geena Davis back into the saddle of a big kick-ass role, is truly exciting,” said HanWay Films CEO Gabrielle Stewart. “This is a team who will deliver a magical ride of a film for a broad audience, one that will make you laugh, cry, and think about the meaning of family.”
Added Resonate: “We founded Resonate Entertainment to tell truly entertaining, inclusive and original stories from a female perspective. With brilliant talent like Geena in the lead and Leena holding the reins creatively, Cowgirl’s Last Ride is right in that lane and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this story to life.”
Resonate’s Cartsonis, Farwell and Emery will produce alongside Aseem Bajaj (Parched). Russell Carpenter (Avatar, Antman, Titanic) will serve as director of photography.
