
Susanna White’s drama focuses on the relationship between artist Catherine Weldon and Sitting Bull.
One month after its well-received world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Woman Walks Ahead — director Susanna White’s true-life drama about the relationship between 19th-century artist Catherine Weldon and legendary Sioux chief Sitting Bull — has been picked up for release by A24 and DirecTV. According to the showbiz trade paper Variety, “A24 and DirecTV are planning a 2018 release, in which A24 will give the film a national theatrical rollout in all major markets.”
Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help) stars in the film as Catherine Weldon opposite Canadian Plains Cree actor Michael Greyeyes (Fear the Walking Dead) as Sitting Bull. Sam Rockwell, Ciaran Hinds, and Bill Camp figure prominently in the supporting cast.
During a Toronto interview session alongside Chastain, Rockwell, and White for The Hollywood Reporter, Greyeyes said he “felt a huge obligation and responsibility to play [Sitting Bull] with integrity and passion.” Which is part of the reason White was so determined to cast Greyeyes in the first place. Long before the start of production, the director said, “I’d been circling Michael. I had my eye on him [because] there were very few people in the world who could have played Sitting Bull. And Michael was the man. So I was keeping a firm watch on him.”
Here is an excerpt from the Hollywood Reporter interview.