Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Pauletta Washington have joined Iervolino Entertainment’s star-studded anthology project “Tell It Like a Woman.”
The trio will take on “Pepcy & Kim,” one of the anthology’s seven segments. Henson has signed on to direct the piece, which is inspired by the true story of Kim Carter, a former addict who has used her story and her nonprofit, the Time for Change Foundation, to help homeless women and children break the cycle and reclaim their lives.
Hudson is set to star in the segment, playing both Pepcy and Kim, opposite Washington. The segment is written by Catherine Hardwicke.
“Pepcy & Kim” completes the puzzle for the “Tell It Like a Woman” project, a film made by and about women, comprised of seven segments that make one intertwining feature film. Hardwicke, Cara Delevingne, Margherita Buy, Marcia Gay Harden, Eva Longoria, Leonor Varela, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anne Watanabe and Mipo O have already signed onto the project.
The project was conceived by Iervolino Entertainment S.p.A, the global film and television production company founded by producer Andrea Iervolino and co-owned with Monika Bacardi, as well as “We Do It Together,” a non-profit film production company that advocates for gender equality, founded by producer Chiara Tilesi.
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“The talents of Taraji, Jennifer and Pauletta are awe-inspiring and on full display in their adaptation of the amazing Kim Carter story,” Iervolino said, announcing the new segment. “This trio is a marvelous compliment to the spirited filmmakers and talent banding together for this one-of-a-kind film, and their sincerity in delivering a ‘must see’ segment is simply moving. We can’t wait to show this film to the world.”
Henson previously directed an episode of her Emmy-nominated series “Empire” and is next set to star as Miss Hannigan in the upcoming “Annie Live!” musical. Hudson, who won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her breakout role in “Dreamgirls,” will next been seen in the highly-anticipated drama “Respect,” where she’ll play Aretha Franklin. Washington was most recently seen in the Nat Geo limited series “Genius: Aretha,” in addition to her musical contributions to projects like “Philadelphia.”
“’Tell It Like A Woman’ has been a very long journey, almost six years producing this film, and we couldn’t have asked for a better ending segment in ‘Pepcy & Kim,’” Tilesi added.
Tilesi, Iervolino and Bacardi produced the project. Executive producers are Jennifer Ryan and Carol Polakoff.
“We are honored to have the immense talents of Taraji, Jennifer, and Pauletta, to bring Kim Carter’s powerful story to life,” Tilesi continued. “This segment reminds us that in life no matter how difficult the circumstance, there is a way to overcome any obstacle. It is so inspiring to see Kim Carter helping women across the United States with her non-profit, The Time for Change Foundation.”
The seven segments that make up the “Tell It Like a Woman” feature are:
“Unspoken,” directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi and starring Margherita Buy;
“Lagonegro,” directed by Lucia Puenzo and starring Eva Longoria;
“Elbows Deep,” directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Cara Delevingne, Marcia Gay Harden and Jasmine Luv;
“Sharing a Ride,” directed by Leena Yadav and starring Jacqueline Fernandez and Anjali Lama;
“A Week in My Life,” directed by Mipo O and starring Anne Watanabe;
and “Pepcy & Kim,” directed by Taraji P. Henson and starring Jennifer Hudson and Pauletta Washington.
Henson is represented by M88 and Ziffren Brittenham. Hudson is represented by CAA and Ziffren Brittenham. Washington is represented by WME.