RBG Filmmakers Reteam with CNN Films for Julia Child Doc

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Imagine Documentaries and CNN Films have partnered with Betsy West and Julie Cohen, the Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning filmmakers behind RBG, to produce a feature-length documentary on Julia Child.

JULIA (working title) will tell the cookbook author and television star’s story using never-before-seen archival video, personal still photos, first-person narratives and cutting-edge food cinematography. The documentary will trace Child’s path, from her struggles to create and publish Mastering the Art of French Cooking to her empowering personal story of a woman in her 50s finding her calling as TV sensation who changed the way Americans think about food, television and women.

Cohen and West are set to direct and produce the film alongside Imagine Documentaries’ Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein. Imagine Entertainment chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, and Imagine co-chairman Michael Rosenberg, are executive producing along with Amy Entelis, executive VP for talent and content development for CNN Worldwide; Courtney Sexton, senior VP of CNN Films; and Oren Jacoby of Storyville Films.

Wilkes, Imagine Documentaries’ president, said: “We couldn’t be more honored to be working with two of the most exciting filmmakers in the doc business, along with Amy and Courtney at CNN Films, in telling the story of such a beloved icon. Julia’s palette looms large in today’s culinary landscape, yet few know the full story behind the gastronomic legend.”

Entelis said: “Betsy, Julie and Imagine Documentaries are perfect partners for an exploration of the consequential life of Julia Child. Even people familiar with her story will be surprised at her multidimensional contributions to American culture and culinary history; the film will also reveal her lesser-known, quiet heroism during some of the world’s most tumultuous times.”

Cohen said: “Nothing gets us more pumped than telling stories of women who accomplished things people said they could never do. Julia’s story has inspiration, romance and plenty of spice.”

West added: “Julia was first. Without her, there would have been no Emeril Lagasse or Rachael Ray or countless other celebrity chefs. We are thrilled to partner with Imagine Documentaries, and to collaborate again with CNN Films to bring the story of this bold and singular woman to the big screen in all its delicious glory.”