Netflix has assembled an all-star cast for its upcoming comedy Women Like Us, with Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Lewis, Vanessa Williams and Vivica A. Fox set to headline the feature. Directed by Tasha Smith, the film follows four women brought together for what begins as a weekend getaway but soon becomes an emotional journey through grief, friendship and second chances. The project also marks a significant collaboration between Netflix and Higher Ground, the production company founded by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, following the company’s transition into an independent studio.
According to the official synopsis, Women Like Us centres on a recently widowed woman who is persuaded by her lifelong best friends and sister to spend what would have been her 30th wedding anniversary in the Hamptons. What begins as an attempt to escape painful memories gradually evolves into a weekend of self-discovery, forcing the women to confront grief, reassess their relationships and rediscover dreams they thought had been left behind. Blending heartfelt drama with comedy, the film explores how friendship can offer strength during life’s most difficult moments.
The film will be directed by Tasha Smith, who has steadily established herself as one of television’s busiest directors. Her directing credits include Bel-Air, Harlem, Mayor of Kingstown and Survival of the Thickest, while she is also behind the upcoming Netflix film ‘Tis So Sweet, starring Taraji P. Henson and Joey Bada$$. The screenplay comes from Ali Kinney, best known for Ginny & Georgia, with additional writing by Tracy Oliver, whose credits include Girls Trip and The Blackening.
One of the film’s biggest draws is its accomplished ensemble cast. Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg remains one of Hollywood’s most celebrated performers, with iconic roles in films such as Ghost and the Sister Act franchise alongside her long-running role as co-host of The View. Jennifer Lewis, often referred to as the “Mother of Black Hollywood,” has built a distinguished career through projects including Black-ish and Think Like a Man. Vanessa Williams, the Emmy, Grammy and Tony-nominated actress and singer, is widely recognised for her performances in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, while Vivica A. Fox has appeared in numerous hit films including Independence Day, Set It Off and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series. Collectively, the four actresses bring decades of experience across comedy, drama and television, making Women Like Us one of Netflix’s most notable ensemble comedies currently in development.
The project also represents the first collaboration between the Obamas’ Higher Ground and Charles D. King’s MACRO Film Studios, the company behind acclaimed films including Judas and the Black Messiah, Mudbound, Fences and Sorry to Bother You. James Lopez, Poppy Hanks, Anikah McLaren and Mark R. Wright will serve as producers, while Michelle Obama and Charles D. King are attached as executive producers. The film continues Higher Ground’s expanding slate following its evolution into an independent production company while maintaining its relationship with Netflix.
Higher Ground has produced a number of acclaimed projects for the streamer, including Rustin, American Symphony, Leave the World Behind, Bodkin and Court of Gold. Upcoming titles from the company include the series All the Sinners Bleed, The Altruists and an untitled mother-daughter comedy starring Julianne Moore.
Production on Women Like Us is scheduled to begin this autumn in New York City. Netflix has not yet announced a release date, but with an award-winning cast, an experienced creative team and two prominent production companies behind it, the comedy is already shaping up to be one of the streamer’s most anticipated upcoming original films.
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