Tessa Thompson rallies Hollywood’s finest to sign on for #TimesUp directors

During the Sundance Film Festival, Thompson offered the #4percentchallenge, which aims to increase the number of female directors making films in the next few years.

“Because only 4 percent of the top 100 studio films over the last decade have been directed by women, Times Up is initiating a challenge, the 4 percent challenge, and I intend to take it,” she declared. “I commit to working with a female director in the next 18 months.”

The Thor: Ragnarok and Creed series star later took to Twitter to publicly challenge other actors.

“Last night in a keynote speech at @sundanceorg I announced that I will join the @TIMESUPNOW #4percentChallenge,” she wrote.

“I will work with a female director in the next 18 months. I know @brielarson, @kerrywashington, & @jurneesmollett are in. Which male actors are with us?”

“You know I’m in!!!!,” Oscar-winner Jordan Peele tweeted, retweeting fellow creative Misha Green, who also asked others to sign on.

The Big Sick‘s Kumail Nanjiani also chimed in. “I accept the @TIMESUPNOW #4percentChallenge and pledge to work with a female director on a feature film in the next 18 months,” he wrote.

Director Paul Feig said he was also on board. “Fellow producers, here’s where to go to get more info and accept the #4percentchallenge,” he wrote. “Join us!”

Reese Witherspoon, Constance Wu, and JJ Abrams have since signed on with Abrams offering his own pledge.

“Love this! @bad_robot is 100% on board!,” he wrote. “Thank you @TessaThompson_x, @TIMESUPNOW and @Inclusionists!”

Thompson didn’t stop there. The Creed II actress later shared another commitment.

“I also committed to Doubling the number of women and POC journalist covering the films I have coming out this year,” she tweeted. “(One in April and in June). TimesUpx2”

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