Jordan Karlesson
Greta Gerwig is known for making what could be considered niche work popular in the mainstream. With indie hit Lady Bird from 2017 and her Little Women adaptation from two years later, Gerwig will test her broad appeal next year with the live-action Barbie, starring Margot Robbie.
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Gerwig directed the hugely anticipated Barbie, co-writing the screenplay with partner Noah Baumbach. It also features Kate McKinnon, Gerwig’s friend from Barnard College, from which they both graduated in 2006.
Gerwig also helped inked another upcoming feature, a Snow White remake, due Mar. 22, 2024.
Expect Gerwig to make lots of headlines over the coming year or so at least. But before we take a look ahead to her upcoming projects, let’s review what the indie talent accomplished so far.
Gerwig’s Beginnings
Before Barbie in 2023, Little Women in 2019, and Lady Bird in 2017, Greta Gerwig actually embarked on her career with a writing credit for 2007’s Hannah Takes the Stairs.
She actually made that movie and its follow-up, 2008’s Nights and Weekends, with “mumblecore” poster boy Joe Swanberg.
Gerwig and Baumbach became romantically involved in late 2011. They co-wrote one of 2012’s most beloved indie darlings, Frances Ha; Gerwig plays the main role in that black-and-white gem.
Gerwig starred in their next project as well, 2015’s screwier Mistress America. Also on her résumé is Northern Comfort, a mostly improvised comedy starring her and filmmaker/musician Rod Webber.
Greta Builds Momentum
Lady Bird is one of the biggest breakthroughs in cinema over the past 10 years. More than just another coming-of-age movie, the comedy/drama delivered a protagonist and told her story with such authenticity that it rises above other genre pictures like Pretty in Pink and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
With a home-run starring performance by Saorise Ronan, Lady Bird is considered not just one of the best films of 2017 but of the past decade. It won best musical/comedy at the Golden Globe Awards and also nabbed five Oscar nominations.
Gerwig’s other acting credits are Todd Solondz’s Wiener-Dog, Nancy Tuckerman’s Jackie, and Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women. She also lent her voice to Wes Anderson’s 2018 release, Isle of Dogs.
Friday sees the release of her latest movie, White Noise, on Netflix. That movie co-stars Adam Driver, who starred in Baumbach’s 2019 streaming hit Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson.
Greta the Great?
The perennially prolific Greta Gerwig doesn’t seem to be changing course anytime soon. Her projects are getting bigger and bigger, however.
In 2018, Time put Gerwig on its list of 100 most influential people in the world. Since then, her impact and shadow continue to grow larger.
Barbie and Snow White are two of the most revered characters in American girls’ lore. If Gerwig lands both projects, she will appear invincible: a movie creator with more indie cred than just about anyone, making the year’s biggest blockbusters.
If and when Gerwig achieves that level of career conquering, she could be on track to become America’s best-known female filmmaker.
