The inspirational teacher/fighting the system movie isn’t exactly a new one, but the genre could use a breath of fresh air. And while we’ll have to wait and see how this one turns out, you couldn’t ask for two better actresses. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis are set to star in “Still I Rise” for Walden Media. The duo will play frustrated mothers who combine forces to transform an inner city public school. Sounds great, right? (ok, relatively so) Here’s where our reservations on the project kick in.
Daniel Barnz, who recently helmer the terrible “Beastly” will be directing but more worrisome is that wholesome family values company Walden Media are producing. Will the film have any bite at all if it’s being pitched to families or are we essentially looking at a “Blind Side” style story?
Guess we’ll find out soon enough. 20th Century Fox will be distributing the picture in the U.S. Filming starts in a couple of weeks in Pittsburgh so maybe Gyllenhaal can stop by and say hi to Christopher Nolan and “The Dark Knight Rises” crew as they’re shooting in the Steel City. Flashback cameo! [Deadline]
