Woman of the Hour

Woman of the Hour is a 2023 American period crime drama film directed by Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut and written by Ian MacAllister McDonald. It is based on the life of serial killer Rodney Alcala, who in 1978 appeared on the television show The Dating Game in the midst of his murder spree. The film revolves around the events of the game show and stars Kendrick as contestant Cheryl Bradshaw.

Woman of the Hour premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023.

Synopsis
In 1978, serial killer Rodney Alcala appeared on The Dating Game and won a date with bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw. At the time, Alcala had murdered five women, and his strange facade during the episode later nicknamed him "The Dating Game Killer".

Cast

 * Anna Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw
 * Daniel Zovatto as Rodney Alcala
 * Nicolette Robinson as Laura
 * Tony Hale
 * Kathryn Gallagher
 * Kelley Jakle
 * Autumn Best

Production
In December 2017, Ian MacAllister McDonald's screenplay Rodney and Sheryl was featured on the Black List, an annual survey of the most popular scripts yet to be produced. In May 2021, Netflix announced it had bought a package around McDonald's script with Chloe Okuno on board as director and Anna Kendrick attached to star. In April 2022, with Netflix no longer attached, the film was sold at the Cannes Film Festival. It was revealed that Kendrick was now on board as director and producer as well as appearing as Cheryl Bradshaw, with the working title of the project now The Dating Game. In December 2022, a producer sued another producer for alleged fraud and breach of contract; The Dating Game was one of three films mentioned in the lawsuit.

Principal photography took place in Vancouver with Zach Kuperstein as cinematographer from October to December 2022.

Release
Woman of the Hour premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, with Kendrick and the cast unable to attend due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Shortly after, Netflix, which was to distribute the film worldwide early in its development, reacquired distribution rights to the United States as well as some international territories for $11 million.

AGC Studios sold international rights to the film; among the companies which acquired the film were VVS Films in Canada, Signature Entertainment in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Roadshow Films in Australia and New Zealand, Empire Entertainment in South Africa, Kino Świat in Poland, Sahamongkol Film International in Thailand, Central Partnership in the CIS, Telepool in Germany and Lionsgate in India and Sri Lanka.