It is a truth universally acknowledged among Hollywood producers that movies featuring female leads just aren’t that popular. This is believed to be the case, despite the fact that women make up a majority of movie audiences, and despite research indicating that movies that pass the Bechdel test make more money than those that don’t. It’s just the truth—and if you don’t believe it, there’s not much anyone can do for you. Nevertheless, MGM is teaming with New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers to produce an action-comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, two female persons who are not men.
The movie currently has no title, but was previously called Don’t Mess With Texas, so expect Witherspoon to break out her Southern twang and for Vergara to speak exactly as she always does. Witherspoon will play an uptight police officer trying to protect Vergara’s character—a “sexy and outgoing” widow of a drug lord—from corrupt cops and other armed men intent on killing her. Production is scheduled to begin in New Orleans later this month.
The basic premise shares some things in common with The Heat, another action-comedy starring two mismatched women that went on to become a box office hit, despite the genders of its stars. Producers are looking to release Untitled Reese Witherspoon And Sofia Vergara Project on May 8, 2015, doubtlessly hoping to see the impossible happen twice in their lifetimes.