Nobel Peace Prize Winner ‘Malala Yousafzai’ Turns Film Producer

Nobel Peace Prize Winner ‘Malala Yousafzai’ Turns Film Producer

Activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, known for her admiration of the TV show “Stranger Things,” is working on her first project for Apple. According to ‘Cinematicworld,’ she is collaborating with her production company, Extracurricular, and indie studio A24 on an upcoming feature documentary. The documentary will focus on the remarkable community of “haenyeo,” a group of fisherwomen residing on Jeju Island in South Korea. The project is currently untitled.

The upcoming documentary, produced by Malala Yousafzai’s Extracurricular and A24, is an Apple Original Film directed by Sue Kim, known for her Peabody Award-nominated work on “The Speed Cubers.” This project marks the first collaboration between Extracurricular and Apple TV+ since their partnership was established in March 2021. According to ‘cinematicworld,’ the documentary is the inaugural production to enter the production phase under this partnership.

Malala Yousafzai, in collaboration with Extracurricular and Apple TV+, announced her initial lineup of film and television projects on Monday. One prominent project on the slate is the film adaptation of Elaine Hsieh Chou’s highly regarded book, “Disorientation,” which was released earlier this year. “Disorientation” is a thought-provoking satire that revolves around a college student’s insightful dissertation on a young poet. The film aims to capture the essence of the book’s sharp wit and critical acclaim.

Adam McKay’s production company, Hyperobject Industries, will produce the project. Stephanie Mercado and Todd Schulman will supervise the project, but they haven’t chosen a director for it yet.

Extracurricular is also developing a TV series based on Asha Lemmie’s popular book “Fifty Words for Rain.” The story revolves around a woman’s quest for belonging and acceptance in Japan after World War II.

According to Erika Kennair, the head of production at Extracurricular, the lead casting for both projects will involve discovering new talent. In the case of “50 Words for Rain,” the lead character is described as a woman who is half-Black and half-Japanese. Kennair expressed excitement about the prospect of finding an actress for this role, mentioning that unless Naomi Osaka becomes interested in acting, they will have to discover a new talent, which is an exciting opportunity.

In an interview with ‘cinematicworld’, Malala Yousafzai expressed her aspirations, saying, “What I aim to contribute is the representation of women of colour, as well as the inclusion of debut writers and Muslim directors and writers. I hope to bring a diverse range of perspectives to the table and challenge the stereotypes that exist in our societies.”

Malala Yousafzai also expressed her desire by saying, “I also hope that the content is enjoyable and that people develop a connection with the characters, having a wonderful time together.”

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