Trending Now - Maggie Gyllenhaal's Directorial Debut Inspired by Trump Election

WHO:

Maggie Gyllenhaal, actress and director

President Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States

Chloé Zhao, female director mentioned by Gyllenhaal

Stephen Colbert, host of "The Late Show"

WHAT:

Gyllenhaal's film "The Bride!" grossed $13.6 million globally on its opening weekend.

The film had a production budget of $90 million and an additional $65 million reportedly spent on marketing.

Gyllenhaal described her film as a feminist horror take on the "Bride of Frankenstein" character.

Gyllenhaal stated, "I have a lot more to say than I've been saying" regarding her inspiration to direct.

Gyllenhaal previously directed the film "The Lost Daughter" in 2021 and an episode of the 2020 TV miniseries "Homemade."

WHERE:

The interview took place on the New York Times' "The Interview" podcast.

WHEN:

President Trump's first election occurred in 2016.

Gyllenhaal's interview was conducted last month, which would be February 2026.

"The Bride!" was released in March 2026.

WHY:

Gyllenhaal cited President Trump's election as a catalyst for her increased involvement in directing, stating it opened her eyes to misogyny.

Gyllenhaal expressed concern about the lack of female directors in major projects and the potential cultural pushback.

HOW:

Gyllenhaal's approach to directing was influenced by her experiences and observations of sexism in the industry, as articulated in her quote: "I’m not going to take that anymore."

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 17:19 UTC)

Maggie Gyllenhaal's new film "The Bride!" grossed $13.6 million globally on its opening weekend, despite a hefty production budget of $90 million and an additional $65 million spent on marketing. In a recent interview on the New York Times' "The Interview" podcast, Gyllenhaal discussed how President Trump's election in 2016 inspired her to take a more active role in directing, highlighting her concerns about the lack of female directors in major projects. She described her film as a feminist horror take on the "Bride of Frankenstein" character and emphasized her determination to address sexism in the industry, stating, "I’m not going to take that anymore."