Katie Holmes has signed on to produce and star in an adaptation of Jill Wine-Banks‘ memoir The Watergate Girl: My Fight For Truth And Justice Against A Criminal President. Holmes has optioned the book via her Noelle Productions banner, and a feature adaptation is being planned.
The book was released last February, and tells current MSNBC legal analyst Wine-Banks’ career story, which began as an organised crime prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice. That led to her selection as one of three assistant Watergate special prosecutors in the obstruction of justice trial against President Nixon’s top aides.
At the time, she was barely 30 and the only woman on the team that prosecuted the highest-ranking White House officials. Dubbed “the mini-skirted lawyer” by the press, she fought sexism to receive the respect accorded her male counterparts — and prevailed.
“I was drawn to this story because it is as relevant today as it was then”, said Holmes in a statement. “Women are constantly trying to break through the glass ceiling in the male workplace and this woman singlehandedly helped reshape the Watergate trial. I am constantly inspired by these strong female protagonists, and it is a world I will always want to explore”.
Wine-Banks added: “I’m excited to be working with Katie Holmes and am both honored and humbled to have my experience as the only woman on the Watergate trial team shared on the big screen”.
“Though it was almost 50 years ago, the story of our investigation and trial remain compelling and relevant to current events and the sexism reflected in my story reverberates today. I hope this film opens up more dialogue around the challenges still facing professional women”.
This sounds like a compelling project. Watergate-related content is always popular, and the misogyny Wine-Banks had to fight through adds another complex layer to the story. No writer or director is attached to the film yet, but they’ll likely be lining out the door to tackle something as interesting as this.
#Peace.Love.TheWatergateGirl
