Michelle Williams joins movie about an underground abortion collective

Michelle Williams. Image: AFP/Chris Delmas via AFP Relaxnews

Michelle Williams looks to have a busy 2018 in store, with a host of big-screen projects in the works. Now, Deadline reports that the actress is signed up to star in Amazon Studios’ historical drama “This is Jane”, based on the true story of an underground abortion service.

Michelle Williams will play Jane’s founder, known as Jenny, who set up this illegal service run by a group of women who learned how to perform safe abortions. The service reportedly helped more than 11,000 women access safe abortions between 1968 and 1973, when the procedure was still illegal in United States medical establishments. The organization also provided health education and counseling.

Director Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”, “The L Word”) is helming the project, based on Laura Kaplan’s 1995 book “The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service”. Michelle Williams joins John Lesher (“Birdman”) and Peter Heller on the movie’s production. “This is Jane” is currently in pre-production with no word yet on when filming will start.

“This is Jane” adds to an already busy schedule for Michelle Williams. The actress recently starred alongside Amy Schumer in “I Feel Pretty”, which opened in the U.S. in April. She also joins Tom Hardy in the Spider-Man spinoff “Venom”, opening Oct. 5. The Oscar-nominated actress is also expected to join Leos Carax and Adam Driver in “Annette”, as well as Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me by Your Name”), Benedict Cumberbatch and Jake Gyllenhaal in “Let it Fall Back”. She is also signed up for the title role in the eagerly awaited Janis Joplin biopic. JB

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