Carey Mulligan & Emerald Fennell Serve Revenge and Rom-Com in 'Promising Young Woman'

"Promising Young Woman" director Emerald Fennell and star Carey Mulligan sit with Variety to share how they created and delivered Fennell's feature directorial debut. Backed by Margot Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment, the movie follows Cassie (Mulligan), a young woman leading a double life as she serves coffee by day and shaming predatory men by night. The film is scheduled to premiere in select theaters on Christmas Day.
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[@jordanvillapando6512]

I just finished watching this movie last night and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. For me, this movie is a portrait of grief. It is never what you’d expect from the trailer. It’s deeply moving.

[@jgirljco]

I agree. It was deeply moving.

[@felipeconn9618]

@dorothyhelly theres no blood, neither gore. But there are some disturbing violent scenes.

[@breakingdawn999]

Where did you people watch it? I still can’t seem to find it anywhere

[@peacechickification]

@@breakingdawn999 i rented it off of youtube. it's only available for rent right now. the cost is entirely worth it. i watched it 3 times in the 48 hours i had it, and i regret not watching it a fourth. it's haunted me in the best way.

[@homerduong777]

Well I think she deserves Bafta and Oscar awards!

[@willspencer3610]

18:44. That car-smashing scene was brilliant and subverted female revenge thriller tropes. Cassie doesn't feel catharsis but is instead immersed deeper into her grief. Carey described it eloquently, as she does with everything.

[@FiremanDuval]

The casting of Jennifer Coolidge as Cassie’s mother was brilliant

The overall casting of comedy actors in dramatic roles, of "geeky" actors as sexual predators... It all adds to the subversive tone of the movie. Brilliant, indeed

[@catross3713]

It was so good guys, so good, it fucked me up but I whooped and hollared and cried and it was so good and I felt so seen and heard and man it's good.

[@isabellele3331]

One of the best aspects of this movie was the casting of all the men. These actors usually portray fun loving, nice guys especially Bo, Max, and Sam and the intent to cast them as their respective roles made you reevaluate that all guys have the potential to be this manipulative; there is no such thing as a 'nice' guy.

[@ciaransammon]

A stunning, stunning, stunning piece of art.

[@joeshimwell1269]

its trash. Its not bad but its still a garbage film so far from art. Its a good script but the direction is trashy

[@ciaransammon]

@@joeshimwell1269 Both the Academy & I disagree.

[@jenniferwolfinteriors]

I so agree with you! I want to shout from the roof tops how brilliant this film is. I so wish I could hug both Carey and Emerald in appreciation of their gifts-although Emerald has said she’s not the hugging type 😆🤗🤗

[@adriannespring8598]

@@joeshimwell1269 And that discomfort is exactly why it needed to be made.

[@olganikolaeva3731]

Incredible women, I am glad that Hollywood finally releases something like this movie and hope for more, and more diversity of smart scripts 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@NeighborTom]

This movie is whiter than a polar bear.

[@sentinel5648]

@@NeighborTom and white is a valid thing too. Not necessarily as you see and describe it. Just some bitterness coming through from you.

[@juanpabloorozcogomora5850]

@Okram Vinci Really? Which one?

[@juanpabloorozcogomora5850]

@Okram Vinci I get it, really, calm down, do not insult people like that. Is not nice. I do think there are lots of feminist or empowering movies, but it is still somehow ¨new¨ but movies like The assistant, Promisisng young woman or The invisible man if it's true they talk about ¨the same¨, they do it in very different and special ways, their performances are unique and they have a different way to tell their story. Promising young woman, even when i can't avoid make Cassie look like a hero sometimes, shows how pain of losing someone for mysoginistic crimes and the need of a revenge. But The assistant which you can also consider feminist talks about a hands-tied woman facing a rotten, hidden system The invisible man talks about violence and trauma Wonder woman is a superheroine and... it doesn't really talks about a real problem, but it's important so little girls can now they can do the same as men I don't know if I´m very clear, but what I mean is that there are plenty of ¨feminist¨ movies -to name them somehow- but they look and explore the same problems from many diferent perspectives and doing it right and in an inteligent way, hopefully they can make an impact. But also films like Mulan (2020) or I care a lot (in some parts) have a forced empowerment, forced feminism, Pd: Englis is my second language, forgive me if i got grammar or spelling wrong at some point Pd 2. I wasn´t atacking you, man, really, I actually think you have a good point. A stupid comment is ¨This movie is whiter than a polar bear¨ THAT is pointles :)

[@juanpabloorozcogomora5850]

@Okram Vinci Besides Carey's performance was BRILLIANT.

[@kayliahferrero]

This movie was really good. Loved the cast, the screenplay, the music, the score and the direction. Carey Mulligan was exceptional and Fenell is a talent to watch.

[@itsjackson91]

What I would've given to see this movie in theaters just for the audience reaction alone. It was brilliant. 👏🏼

[@marcusmcgill4423]

Pretty amazing film. It could've easily gone the route of "I Spit on Your Grave", but didn't. And I found that to be brilliant. It pulled back while still having a lot of tension. And the final act I did not expect at all. Mulligan knocked it out of the park.

[@goldtomlin3438]

I have seen the film today and I gotta say its easily one of the best films of 2020 with a very shocking ending that will be divisive. I personally enjoyed the ending but I can see why many wouldn't. Overall an 8/10 movie for me.

[@stephanieetm]

I was really shaken by it. Thought it was excellent. It will definitely upset some people!

[@DeeDee97916]

Yes I didn't see the ending coming either but, I loved it! The ending really illustrated the dark, complicated, heartbreaking real life struggle many victims & their loved ones go through. 🙏🏻

[@miguelrosado6348]

I think the happy ending just ruins the twist and the subverted nature of the entire story. The end should have been dark and a proper punch in the stomach. It would raise more awareness for this subject, than the happy ending revenge from the grave and everyone goes to jail bs.

[@sentinel5648]

@@miguelrosado6348 - thanks for that. I haven't been able to see it yet, but will keep that in mind, and tend to agree with going all the way if you are exploring a topic. Difficult to know why, but it's probably a career move, and box office concern. A new woman entering the industry, is also a reflection of the dominant class thing being addressed. "It's not very often you get to make a film!"

[@miguelrosado6348]

@@sentinel5648 You shouldn't read the comments if you haven't seen it. It will spoil the film. Also, I find it very odd that the narratives that surround the film seem to be more important than the film itself. It is better to just watch a film and then read about it, than already knowing that it is controversial because of the plot or because of who made it or how was it made. But that's just my opinion.

[@filthyanimalsmovie2024]

This film looks excellent. Congratulations on getting this film out there.

[@13realmusic]

Damn, I'm glad I was able to see this in theaters. It definitely captures that real life sense of things can be going just great and all of sudden you realize the door is locked behind you.

[@homerduong777]

Most talented person. She is also a writer for Killing Eve. So amazinggggg

[@hadeel2530]

A relevant film, Careys performance was amazing. Female written/female led films always speak to me.

[@emjbelle]

This movie is amazing 10/10

[@laurabrown8161]

I absolutely ADORE watching Emerald & Carrie taking turns gushing about each other. And watching them wiggle to receive the compliment. Oh how wonderful!!!

[@breakingdawn999]

I really want to see this movie....I hope they release it soon

[@arbrechocolat]

it should come out on Dec 25th this year!

[@megatwingo]

The announcements and especially the trailers of this movie are absolutely misleading. Everybody, no matter if "Effinist" or not, is especially disappointed about the very anticlimactic end in the last ten minutes of the movie. I wrote about that (with minor spoilers) elsewhere in this thread. This movie will crash and burn...and it already did in the usercomments, where people have already seen this movie in pre-screenings on festivals etc. Good! I'm an anti-"girl power movement" and this movie is a further evidence for one simple fact: The followers of this toxic "girl power" ideology can't even get their own propaganda movies right. Even when they have full control over the menhater narrative and the production.

[@breakingdawn999]

@@megatwingo I actually saw a spoiler free review of the movie and the reviewer said the same thing about how the last 10 minutes ruined the whole movie.

[@megatwingo]

@@breakingdawn999 Thank you for telling me. I was already pretty baffled about the fact, that so many spoiler free reviews were praising even that lame end. In my opinion that has ideological reasons. They want so very desperately, that the whole movie comes across as 100% good in their own "girl power" propaganda reviews of that movie, that they are even praising that disappointing end.

[@breakingdawn999]

@@megatwingo check out Chris Stuckmann’s review of the movie. He wasn’t happy with the ending.

[@capo3rdfret]

in addition to the great answers can I just say the questions were really good as well! thanks for this interview

[@sarahord5960]

SUCH an incredible film. I hope they are very very proud of what they all made!

[@ejm6460]

Mulligan was absolutely phenomenal here! I honestly though it would have been a no brainer over McDormand in Nomadland to give her the Best Actress. But that says a lot of the voters

[@TheNilyaAylin]

6:50 there is no better way to describe the film, it is exactly how I described it to my friends

[@HyrumLentz]

I'm so excited to see Bo in this next week

[@gustavodelgado5716]

Everybody needs to see this movie! It's spectacular and upsetting and thought-provoking.

[@elsergecruz]

My favorite film of 2020

[@ariadnaligorria4582]

It's such a fucking good movie!!!!!! I loved it every single second❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Ozzzzzzzz]

Emerald is awesome how did I not know about her!

[@joshmurry8125]

This looks so good!!

[@taciomendes7091]

I loved this movie.

[@judyclay816]

This film is a masterpiece. My question is, who is The Promising Young Woman? Cassie or Nina? Both?

[@ToniWellons]

I was thinking the promising young woman was Nina, but it actually was both of them. Both of their lives changed drastically after the incident

[@alytaylor8883]

Definitely both. The promising young woman is both the one who had the traumatic incident happen to them (Nina) and their loved ones who also now live with guilt and anger that that horribly thing happened to the person they love and care about (Cassie). Both were victims in their own way. They were both such promising young women who were cast aside to make way for the 'promising young man', who could only really promise to cause more pain and damage to more people.

[@TheBman1023]

Movie was exceptional

[@williammckean7388]

Heard this was good, but had no idea. Profound, gripping, solid across the board. End scene and soundtrack were jaw-dropping. Always liked Juice Newton's Angel of the Morning, now I LOVE it. Only knew Emerald Fennell as an actress prior to this. And, I read she was pregnant through at least part of the filming. Spectacular all around!

[@sp5457]

Are we just going to ignore tht the director of this movie Emerald Fenell is Camilla Parker Bowles from the Crown 👑 🤔 or am I the only one who is pleasantly surprised.

[@sarahgreene8997]

Oh god. Thank you! I couldn’t place her. You helped me remember. She’s fantastic and I’ve always loved Carey Mulligan.

[@rhyfeddu]

And Call the Midwife 😊

[@glenysannewood342]

Emerald is hilarious

[@elijahsackville-glucksburg]

Best film of 2020

[@aramjoaomestreleon5157]

A great film.

[@juanhorac4605]

Me gustaria que este interesante canal estuviera doblado o traducido al español Por Favor Tengan en cuenta mi pedido Atte Juanhorac de Buenos Aires Argentina 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤

[@deviceology9251]

SPOILERS ALERT. Great movie. I too would hv preferred the fire ending, with maybe the scheduled texts and the letter to the lawyer but this in no way is a criticism, merely a preference. Carey s performance, the screenplay and direction were amazing. The scene with the Dean was brilliant and I felt deeply for Cassie and in an alternate universe the movie could have ended before that cow dropped the video on her and she would have lived happily with her fella (I guess that's the Disney edit).

[@Starkardur]

Didn't Variety claim that Carey Mulligan wasn't hot enough for this role?

[@rabbitmaze]

which is really weird, because guys wont just take advantage of the "hot girl". They are just going for what they see as the easy target. And a drunk girl is an easy target. She doesn't need to be a bombshell 10/10 for an everyday guy to want to rape her. Maybe if cassie was targeting super rich men, who could have any girl they wanted....then suuuure, maybe then I could understand about her not being "hot" and "young" enough. But that isn't the point of the film. The point is so many everyday "nice guys" are the ones who will take advantage of the situation presented. And everyday guys are not being presented with super hot girls all the time, this is the everyday city girl they might meet in a club.

[@rabbitmaze]

@@NeighborTom whoosh*

[@tymaa9349]

michael cosgrove she have the body of a 25 y/o model. And a very nice face. I don’t think bunch of dudes would complain when such a woman in a stripper outfit would show up at their bachelor party. A guy who is picking up drunk girls to r*pe them wouldn’t care if she’s ten as long as she’s unconscious.

[@NeighborTom]

@@tymaa9349 Dude, you need to get out more. Have you ever been to a gym? She does NOT have the body of a 25y/o. And no one picks a 40 year old stripper to attend a bachelor party.

[@NeighborTom]

@Dino Matranas Yeah. I hate white feminism. You clearly support this film FOR SOME REASON wink wink

[@laurramore]

I love that she never put the SA scene in the movie. I can never watch when there is a SA scene in a movie I always close my eyes. I just think that is the difference between a man and a woman directing a movie about assault.

[@sentinel5648]

"Terrific!"

[@OlivaSullen]

14:12 is my favourite part, and 15:37

[@dracarysssx]

just realized she plays Camilla in The Crown

[@TheDavizlau]

Cult movie good choice

[@joeterzio7175]

It's Camilla Parker Bowles!

[@sentinel5648]

She's too gorgeous to ever play Camilla! However, it was her turn I guess!

[@peacechickification]

i'd love to know how her child feels being in utero while their mother made this film impacted their life in 40 years.

[@DreamWeave288]

When the director of a movie is more attractive than its lead actress xD

[@hupotasso4705]

The fact that you’d make this comment suggests to me you don’t appreciate or understand the movie.

[@amyclarke41]

ok

[@megatwingo]

I will not mention spoilers here. Maybe a tiny little bit. But I will not mention details. I will mention, what is NOT happening in this movie. Only that much: No. The movie will NOT shock anybody. I found out, what it was about and what all those markings in the her little notice book meant in the other trailers of this movie. And I found out, how the movie ended (I will not mention details). The movie is relative harmless and all the little hints of her taking bloody revenge in the trailers are massively misleading. And the end of the movie is an absolute disappointment on several levels. Not even the toxic menhater feminists, who already watched that movie in pre-screenings last year, really completely liked that movie and that ending. Reason: Her "revenge actions" in the movie are relative harmless. And the end of the movie is a huge anti-climax on several levels. The only people, who will enjoy that movie at least a little are the "girl-power"-people, because the "men are bad" message and the "believe all women without due process" message is massive and (for me) ultra annoying. A guy, who enjoys this movie and this (for the umphteenth time telegraphed) "girl power" "men are bad"-message has lost his balls a long time ago. And even me, as a big anti-"girl power"-guy, did expect a more brutal revenge on all of those men in this movie. Especially at the end. But NOTHING of all that is happening. Not even a little. The trailer is absolutely misleading. The movie comes across like a relative harmless, "effinist" drama where all men are scumbags and where all regular women are accomplices to the bad men...and the law and finding evidences and due process have no meaning at all and vigilante "justice" is the only "good" thing. And like I said before: That "vigilante justice" is lukewarm at best and it isn't at all, what the trailer makes the people believe. If you don't believe me: Read all the "girl-power" reviews of the pre-screenings. I found some "girl power" comments below all those umphteenth KZbin-trailers of this movie, too, where they have allready watched that movie on festivals last year. In short: This isn't the bloody-brutal revenge drama, that all those menhaters and friends of gore are obviously expecting. That never happens in this movie once. Not even once.

[@stephanieetm]

Cant find your other comment whete you said to me that it was anti male girl power propaganda but here's ny reply to that. Rubbish. She focuses her revenge on the female dean and on her old female friend as well as the boys that hurt her friend. She has a lovely relationship with her father, and shows compassion for the male lawyer she confronts. It's anti the system that allows rapists to re offend. It's fine if it's not for you but i thought it was great.

[@megatwingo]

@@stephanieetm Like I said: The normal women are a side-target, too. The women, who still like men, who are still demanding evidences for accusations and claims of crimes. Yeah: "Anti system". Anti due process. Anti-"having evidences in front of court". Classic, men-demonizing "believe all women without evidences" "girl-power"-propaganda with a leftwing extremist undertone. This is a movie for male self-haters and for men hating "girl power" apologists, who hate men that much, that they want to deny those men their rights in front of the democratic court systems of the western world. If a woman would tell me at a first date, that she liked this movie...I would stand up and leave without any further words of explanation!

[@nefariousni1]

I bet you also have trouble with the ‘anti-climax’

[@megatwingo]

@@nefariousni1 No. But I bet you have trouble with a climax.

[@ginao6810]

@@stephanieetm well said. It’s almost like the films makes this guy feel a bit uncomfortable; almost like he feels a bit attacked. And if the film is making him feel attacked, clearly it’s attacking all men! It also strikes me how much this guy writes about what this film is not. It’s not a revenge film, it’s not a gore film, it’s not a girl power film. So fucking what! That doesn’t make the film bad. It makes it innovative and new. This is what happens when you give new people the chance to write and make films. Not just white dudes

[@ainstharad]

Revenge or a stern talking to? This movie sucked so bad, but had infinite potential! Portraying women as weak and feeble and again driving home that white cis het men get to continue living their life with nearly no repercussions. HATED IT.

[@dreamterry]

what the hell are you talking about? did you even watch this movie?

[@CooperDianeBob]

@@dreamterry she posted that same comment in a bunch of other videos about this movie

[@vivianech1]

You’re so wrong dude hahah