Elizabeth Banks Tackling 'Invisible Woman' As Director And Star

After “Charlie’s Angels,” actress-turned-director Elizabeth Banks is ready to take on another classic as Universal is developing “Invisible Woman.” The spin on the “Invisible Man” story will see Banks directing the project as well as serving as the main lead.

Deadline broke the news that Banks pitched the idea of “Invisible Woman” to the studio. The film, which will be written by Erin Cressida Wilson (“The Girl on the Train”), will also be produced by Banks and her husband Max Handelman through their company Brownstone Productions.

Banks has recently come out from directing “Charlie’s Angels.” Her other directing credits include “Pitch Perfect 2” in 2015.

The upcoming project will be Universal Pictures second time that they will be bringing the classic character to the big screen. Adapted from H.G. Wells’ novel “Invisible Man,” the story was adapted into various TV shows and films over the years. One of the more famous ones was the Kevin Bacon-led science fiction film “Hollow Man.” The studio’s latest adaptation will be directed by Leigh Whannell and is being marketed as a horror film starring Elizabeth Moss to be released on Feb. 28, 2020, under Blumhouse Productions. The new film would have no connection to Banks’ version.

“Invisible Woman” is the latest in a line of films that Universal is developing as part of their strategy to revive their Universal Monsters library. After the box office failure of “The Mummy” in 2017, the studio scrapped their idea of a Dark Universe and instead develops individual stories that don’t connect to one another. After hearing Banks’ pitch, the studio responded to the idea and decided to develop it into a film. Similarly, director Paul Feig pitched an idea for a feature titled “Dark Army”, which would feature monsters from the original films as well as new characters. A film based on Dracula’s henchman is also in development by Dexter Fletcher, Ryan Ridley, and Robert Kirkman.

There is currently no release date given for the “Invisible Woman” film as it is still in the development stages.