Taraji P. Henson is set to star in the female-centred remake of ‘What Women Want’.
The 47-year-old actress – who is best known for starring in the TV drama ‘Empire’ – will take on the leading role in the new film ‘What Men Want’, a lose remake of the 2000 Nancy Meyers movie.
In the original movie, Mel Gibson plays New York ad executive Nick Marshall who, after a freak accident, gains the ability to read the minds of women and uses his new powers to get ahead in his career and romantically until he falls in love with Helen Hunt’s alter ego Darcy McGuire.
Now Paramount Players are hoping to fast track the remake which will see Henson playing a female sports agent who has been constantly out boxed by her male colleagues.
When she gains the power to hear men’s thoughts, she starts to shift the paradigm to her own advantage as she races to sign the NBA’s next superstar.
The new film, which is slated to be released in 2019, will be produced by Will Packer – who previously worked with Henson on ‘No Good Deed’ – and James Lopez.
This isn’t the first time Hollywood has re-worked a film with a female focus.
Last year, the cult classic ‘Ghostbusters’ was remade with a full female team – starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones – but unlike the original, the film was heavily criticised and disappointed at the box office.
Next year, there will be another female-orientated remake of some sorts with ‘Ocean’s Eight’ – a new take on the George Clooney and Brad Pitt led ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ franchise.
‘Ocean’s Eight’ has a star-studded cast, including Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Rihanna and Hailey Baldwin.
The film will see Matt Damon reprise his role as Linus Caldwell from the ‘Ocean’s’ franchise too.
Taraji P. Henson to star in remake of What Women Want
