Young Woman and the Sea

Young Woman and the Sea is a 2024 American biographical sports film directed by Joachim Rønning and written by Jeff Nathanson, based on the 2009 book by Glenn Stout. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films for Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Daisy Ridley as Gertrude Ederle, an American competitive swimmer who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. It also stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, and Glenn Fleshler in supporting roles.

Development on the film began in 2015 after producer Jerry Bruckheimer acquired the film rights to the book, and established a distribution deal with Paramount Pictures, with Nathanson attached to write it and Lily James cast as Ederle. Paramount eventually put the project in turnaround. In 2020, Walt Disney Pictures acquired the project with Ridley set to portray Ederle and Rønning to direct it. Principal photography took place between May and June 2022.

Originally set for release on the streaming service Disney+, Disney opted to release the film theatrically after positive test screenings. Young Woman and the Sea premiered at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles on May 16, 2024, and received a limited theatrical release on May 31. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Premise
Young Woman and the Sea tells the story of Gertrude Ederle, an American swimming champion, who first won a gold medal at the 1924 Olympic Games. In 1926, Ederle became the first woman to swim 21 miles across the English Channel.

Cast

 * Daisy Ridley as Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle: An American competition swimmer and Olympic champion.
 * Olive Abercrombie as Young Trudy Ederle
 * Christopher Eccleston as Jabez Wolffe: Trudy's trainer in France who failed to swim the English Channel on multiple attempts.
 * Stephen Graham as Bill Burgess: Her hero who successfully swam the English Channel and inspires her.
 * Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Margaret "Meg" Ederle: Trudy's sister.
 * Lilly Aspell as Young Meg.
 * Kim Bodnia as Henry Ederle: Trudy's father.
 * Jeanette Hain as Gertrude Anna Ederle: Trudy's mother.
 * Glenn Fleshler as James Sullivan: the man that sponsors the women swimmers to the 1924 Paris Olympics and who Trudy attempts to convince to fund her attempt to cross the English Channel.
 * Sian Clifford as Charlotte: Trudy's swimming trainer at the Women's Swimming Association (WSA) in America.

Development
In November 2015, it was announced that Jerry Bruckheimer had acquired the rights to the 2009 non-fiction book Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World by Glenn Stout for Paramount Pictures, hiring Jeff Nathanson to write the script for the film, and Lily James cast to play Gertrude Ederle. In December 2020, it was reported that the film was in development at Walt Disney Pictures, with the company eyeing a Disney+ release, after Paramount put it in turnaround. Production was overseen by Jerry Bruckheimer under his Jerry Bruckheimer Films banner, and Chad Oman for Disney.

Casting
Lily James was originally cast in the titular role of Gertrude Ederle, until the film lay in development hell. With the film's announcement in December 2020, Daisy Ridley was cast in the titular role instead. In March 2022, Tilda Cobham-Hervey joined the cast of the film playing Margaret Ederle, along with Stephen Graham in an undisclosed role. In May 2022, Christopher Eccleston joined the cast in an undisclosed role.

Filming
Principal photography began by early May 2022, and wrapped on June 18, 2022. Ridley received swimming training from Olympic swimmer turned coach Siobhan-Marie O'Connor.

Release
Young Woman and the Sea was originally scheduled to be released as a Disney+ original film. In January 2024, following positive test screenings and the box office performance of the Amazon MGM Studios sports drama The Boys in the Boat (2023), a theatrical release was considered as a possible way to tie-in with the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in France, with a potential release date of May 31, 2024. The following month, it was officially moved to theatrical for a limited release. The film's world premiere took place on May 16, 2024 in Los Angeles. It was later released on Disney+ on July 19, 2024.

Marketing
First look images from the film were released exclusively by People on March 6, 2024. The trailer debuted at CinemaCon on April 11, 2024, and was released to the public online shortly after.

Box office
Young Woman and the Sea grossed $500,000 domestically and $81,725 in international territories for a worldwide box office total of $581,725.

Critical response
Glenn Kenny of The New York Times gave a positive review of the film, writing that "this is one of those movies that proves, when they’ve got a mind to, they can still make them like they used to." Kate Erbland of IndieWire wrote that "the real Ederle accomplished so much, it’s hard to imagine cramming it all into one tidy feature. The one we’ve got? It’s good enough, rousing enough, compelling enough."

Charles Bramesco of The Guardian criticized the movie's "anodyne, Disneyfied" take on feminism, writing that "you’d be hard-pressed to find a living person who believes women should not be allowed to go swimming". Derek Smith of Slant Magazine said that the film creates "virtually no dramatic tension" because it "leaves no room for doubt about what Trudy Ederle will accomplish".