“Sheboots” aren’t the solution to Hollywood’s gender gap

Ghostbusters isn’t the only franchise to be recast with female leads – and that’s not necessarily a victory for equality.

When Bridesmaids was released in 2011 it broke new ground for female-centric blockbusters. Since then, however, Hollywood has moved away from making original women-led films towards ‘sheboots’, where a popular franchise is recast with the male roles going to women. The next in production is Ocean’s Ocho, the latest remake of Ocean’s Eleven, which will see the primary conmen played by Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. Although it has been stressed that the actors will not be playing lady-versions of the male roles, it will be interesting to see what Olivia Milch is able to do with the screenplay within the constraints of the genre.

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The Heat OST

The Heat is about an uptight FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock, presumably channelling her Miss Congeniality gene) and a foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy, no way playing a foul mouthed funny girl? I just don’t believe it!). Inevitably they become best buddies through the course of this film from Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids. Continue reading