Lily James will play a role inspired by the life of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe, one of the world’s youngest billionaires.
The 34-year-old English actress, who recently played Pamela Anderson in the biographical series Pam & Tommy, has reportedly signed on to helm the untitled film being developed by 20th Century Studios and Ethea Entertainment. Deadline.
While plot details are still being kept under wraps, a source revealed that “film is an inspiration and not based on Wolfe’s life and it is unknown how this film will relate to the actual origin story.”
At this point, casting “is already underway and the film is expected to be released in 2025.”
The 34-year-old English actress, who recently played Pamela Anderson in the biographical series Pam & Tommy, has reportedly signed on to helm the untitled film inspired by the entrepreneur, according to Deadline.
The Golden Globe nominee will begin filming the project later this year.
In addition to starring in the film, James will produce alongside Jennifer Gibgot and Andrew Panay.
Director Rachel Lee Goldenberg wrote the script with Bill Parker and Kim Caramele.
Wolfe started Bumble in 2014 after famously leaving Tinder, another app she helped found, due to ongoing tensions with executives.
Last year Wolfe said The times that she felt “isolated” in the tech world and later became “gendered” by the headlines surrounding her departure from the company she started at age 25.
‘Women who have achieved things are scrutinized differently. “If you changed the word ‘Whitney’ to ‘John’ in headlines, I bet people would think they were reading strangely,” she said.
During the interview, the mother of two emphasized that her working life in the role of CEO was too hectic to worry about every detail of the business.
“I am absolutely capable of doing that, but we all only have so many hours in the day that we can contribute to our work, our family and ourselves.”
The Golden Globe nominee will begin shooting the project later this year with 20th Century Studios and Ethea Entertainment; seen in December 2023
Last year, Wolfe (to be seen in September 2023) told The Times that she felt “isolated” in the tech world and later became “gendered” by the headlines surrounding her departure from the company she started at 25.
“It’s really important for all of us to constantly think: Are those hours being spent to the best of my ability, contributing to my superpowers, or are those hours being spent doing things that are, quite frankly, not the things I can be best at and who can drive the company forward?’, she told the newspaper.
Wolfe added that she has been thinking about leaving for a long time and that she knows CEOs in Silicon Valley who have stayed in their positions for too long and for the wrong reasons.
‘In recent years I have brought human life into the world. I have experienced health problems. I also exist outside of Bumble. So it’s good to reevaluate,” the Utah native said.
Wolfe noted that she understood the concerns of those “hurt” by the use of social media and dating apps, saying the latter is full of “hurt people hurting people.”
“If you feel demoralized because your social media is toxic, you are isolated and lonely, and you live a voyeuristic lifestyle where you look at everyone on social media all day and you feel like they are prettier, smarter, better and have more. more fun than you, then you’re left with a very empty state,” she continued.
Wolfe said her goal was to increase “the self-confidence of boys, girls, women and men.”
In November, Wolfe handed over the role of CEO to seasoned tech and business executive Lidiane Jones.
In November, Wolfe handed over the role of CEO to seasoned tech and business executive Lidiane Jones
Bumble’s eponymous app stood out in the industry because it allowed women to make the first move.
In recent years, Bumble, which counts Friends, Badoo, Fruitz (for Gen Z) and Official in its portfolio of dating services, has faced pressure to grow due to turmoil in some markets such as Eastern Europe and competition from the bigger rival Match.
Bumble raised more than $2 billion in its initial public offering in February 2021, building on momentum for internet-based dating services amid pandemic-induced movement restrictions.
At the time she rang the Nasdaq bell, Bumble was at the top of its $13 billion valuation.
She is married to Michael Herd, an oil and gas heir from Texas. They met on a ski trip in Aspen and share two children together; seen in 2021
However, share values have fallen by a quarter since then as tailwinds diminished.
Shares traded above $70 per share on opening day and have since fallen to below $14.
Wolfe’s departure was the second major executive departure from Bumble this year, following the departure of president Tariq Shaukat, who stepped down after three years in the role.
“We are incrementally negative on the news pending further details…we view Whitney’s departure as a headwind to the business over the medium term and negative to overall company morale,” Evercore analysts said in a note.
Whitney is married to Michael Herd, an oil and gas heir from Texas. They met on a ski trip in Aspen and share two children together.
Wolfe has received award after award for her work in technology and dating apps. In 2014, she was named one of the Top 30 Women Under 30 in Technology by Business Insider.
And in 2016, she was named one of Elle’s Women in Tech, before receiving recognition as a Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017 and 2018.
