Ava DuVernay became the first woman of color to direct a major motion picture that was over $100 million budget. Now the director will do it again with her second feature, which will be another pricey adaptation, but of a different sort.

She will go from A Wrinkle In Time to a big screen adaptation of DC’s The New Gods for Warner Bros. More on the story below.

A Wrinkle In Time
Director: Ava DuVernay
Screenwriter: Jennifer Lee, Jeff Stockwell
Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peña, Storm Reid, Zach Galifianakis, Chris Pine, Deric McCabe, Levi Miller
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Rated PG | 109 Minutes
Release Date: March 9, 2018

“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” “” Tzu, Chinese

26 different publishers rejected Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time when she began shopping the book around in early 1960. The science fantasy story was seen as too complicated or “too adult” for children to comprehend, and publishers of the era believed there wasn’t an audience for books with young female leads. They were wrong. The children’s novel was published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 1962, and has since become a beloved classic, praised for encouraging young girls to embrace their love of speculative fiction and pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Now, 55 years later, Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, a film adaptation directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma, The Thirteenth), hopes to inspire young girls of color similarly. Known for championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, DuVernay is the first woman of color to direct a live-action film with a production budget over $100 million. In keeping with her goal to create a more diverse representation on screen, DuVernay chose to stray from L’Engle’s description of the characters and cast actors of all ages, ethnicities, and genders to ensure the timeless story resonates with today’s audiences.

One of the best things about director Ava DuVernay‘s A Wrinkle In Time is how it makes themes about representation and identity easily digestible for a younger audience.

Based on author Madeleine L’Engle‘s novel of the same name, the film uses those timeless issues that affect children and turns it into a sci-fi fantasy adventure with an all-star cast led by the up and coming Storm Reid.

We, along with our fellow journalists, were recently invited to the film’s press junket where the cast and director talked about those themes and how they hope it reaches audiences of all ages.

Ava DuVernay‘s adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time is shaping up to be one of the most exciting films of the year. And it is also looking to be one of the most inspirational. The film marks the first time that an African American woman has directed a $100 million-plus budgeted film. And that is just the tip. There is also a well-rounded multi-ethnic cast that is led by a young woman of color. So it is a very timely film that speaks to the current social climate.

Based on all the trailers we have seen so far, A Wrinkle in Time will be a sensory thrill. It looks vibrant and exciting. The sounds are powerful. And the world DuVernay has created looks so real. Now, with the film just a month away from release, Disney has dropped another trailer. Check it out below.

Though there have been a few screen adaptations of A Wrinkle In Time, Disney’s latest adaptation of the film will be the first of its kind. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the film will be the first $100 million-plus budgeted film to be directed by a woman of color. Not only that, but the film sees a racially diverse cast and a young woman of color as the lead. That is something worthy of acknowledgment, especially in this day and age.

While the film has yet to be released, Disney has dropped their latest behind-the-scenes look that offers us a peek at the creative process of the film and DuVernay’s mission to give audiences a film that will reverberate. Check it out below.