Six years ago actress Renée Zellweger decided to take a long hiatus, and last year returned to the big screen in BRIDGET JONES’S BABY. Now the actress is back to work, and after putting out several new movies has just landed her most high-profile role in years as one of America’s most beloved starlets of the Golden Age of movies: Judy Garland.
The news broke that Zellweger will play the star in the movie JUDY, which will center on the actress 30 years after her breakout role in THE WIZARD OF OZ, and will focus on her last concerts in London in the winter of 1968. At the age of 47, the actress is tired, exhausted, but is still a major draw in the city having a five-week run of sold-out shows. Despite the success, all she wants to do is be at home with her kids, and as she deals with the memories of her youth in the limelight she wonders if she has what it takes to go on.
Though there is no word yet on other castings the movie is set to be directed by Tony nominee Rupert Goold from a script by Tom Edge (THE CROWN). The movie will feature some of Garland’s hit songs as well, and production is set to begin in February 2018 and could make the cut for a fall/winter release.
Zellweger has always been a talent to be admired and has done amazing work in movies like CHICAGO and COLD MOUNTAIN (the latter won her an Oscar), and it’s great to see her back in the saddle. Sometimes you need to take time away from the spotlight to readjust yourself, and hopefully, the time away did her good. Now she can get back to doing what she does best, as JUDY has potential to be some of her best work yet.
Zellweger is currently in SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME.