Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is set to star in Wildfire, written by Chaya Doswell. For her emotional performance in Pose, the critically acclaimed series, she became the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. In addition, it has been confirmed that she will be voicing Nightbird in the upcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts film. Additionally, Rodriguez will soon begin filming the second season of Apple’s comedy Loot, which will premiere later this year.
Wildfire was recently featured on The Black List, a list of top-rated screenplays selected by industry professionals but undiscovered by a producer, or a studio. The movie follows the story of Lu, a seven-year-old girl who accidentally starts a wildfire. As the story progresses, she tricks Merribelle, a hardworking trans woman, into kidnapping her, which forms an unexpected friendship. Wildfire promises to keep audiences engaged from the beginning of the film as a result of this connection between the two characters.
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The Screenplay Is Relevant and Edgy
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Screenplay for the movie was written by New York playwright Chaya Doswell. She recently collaborated with Braid director Mitzi Peirone on an adaptation of her play Everyone I Love is Dead. She is also writing Carlos Luckybo with two-time Oscar winner Rick Carter (Avatar, Lincoln).
According to Deadline, Oscar- and Emmy-nominated producers David Permut and Dawn Krantz acquired the script. Krantz described Chaya’s screenplay as “relevant and edgy”, and filled with heart and humor. The producer also stated that she knew this film had to be made as soon as she saw the script. Apart from being excited to work on the production, she expressed her enthusiasm for delivering Wildfire’s story to viewers. Emmy nominee and Grammy winner Randy Jackson has been announced as Wildfire’s co-producer. In a statement, Jackson spoke highly of working with Michaela:
Due to their ongoing projects, producers Permut and Krantz may not have time to release Wildfire any time soon. Permut is currently producing Taylor Sheridan’s new series Bass Reeves, Apple’s upcoming Being Heumann, and the sequel to his film Face/Off at Paramount. Krantz is also currently producing Keeper of the Cup which stars Mena Massoud, Dan Aykroyd, and Abigail Breslin.
“I’m so excited to be working with Michaela on this amazing project. Michaela is one of the super stars of now and the future. She’s immensely talented.”
