The 21st Century has delivered plenty of leading ladies in film that inspired a multitude of girls (and boys, too), from Hermione Granger to Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Now that we’ve crossed over into the first year of the third decade, these six leading ladies will hopefully earn their spot alongside strong female role models of this generation.
In Pearl Studio’s animated flick, Over the Moon, Cathy Ang voices Fei Fei, a young girl who enjoys hearing the stories her mother tells her of Chang’e, the moon goddess. But one day, her mother passes away and her father is remarrying. Believing in everlasting love, Fei Fei decides to build a rocket and go to the moon in a bid to prove Chang’e’s existence. Over the Moon soars its way onto Netflix October 28, 2020.
In Disney/Pixar’s Soul, comedienne Tina Fey lends her voice to 22, a precocious “spirit” who has never understood the charm of the human experience. Passionate middle school music teacher, Joe Gardner, winds up with 22 in a heaven-like world when his soul is separated from his body after falling down a manhole. It’s up to 22 to get Joe’s soul back to Earth before the latter loses his body. Soul drifts into theaters November 20, 2020.
In Zeno Mountain Farm’s first feature-length film, Best Summer Ever, which I co-star in, Shannon DeVido plays Sage, the strong-willed daughter of drug dealers who is constantly on the move. She and Tony, an aspiring dancer, fall in love at dance camp before reuniting in high school, all the while trying to cope with their upbringing. Sage must also match wits with a conniving cheerleader if she is to take charge of her own life. Best Summer Ever dances its way into theaters 2020-2021.
In Respect, Jennifer Hudson portrays performer Aretha Franklin. This biopic depicts Franklin’s rise to fame, from her beginnings as a young gospel singer to becoming the Queen of Soul, as well as the ups and downs of her life and career. Respect croons its way into theaters January 15, 2021.
The heroine of the animated sports comedy, Rumble, is Geraldine Viswanathan’s Winnie, a teenage girl who aspires to be a wrestling trainer. Her goal is to follow in her father’s footsteps by training an underdog giant monster, Steve, to be a champion. Rumble stomps into theaters January 29, 2021.
In Disney’s upcoming fantasy adventure, Raya and the Last Dragon, the Southeast Asian realm of Kumandra is threatened by a force of evil. Kelly Marie Tran voices Raya, a lone warrior and chief’s daughter who goes on a quest to find the last dragon and save her homeland. However, she needs to learn that it will take trust, as well as dragon magic, to save the day. Raya and the Last Dragon charges into theaters on March 12, 2021.