Pedro Almodóvar casts Cate Blanchett as lead in his debut English language film

After etching his name as one of the most prolific filmmakers in Spanish cinema, Pedro Almodóvar is seeking to replicate his success this time in Hollywood with star power. It was announced that Cate Blanchett will star in the filmmaker’s first English-language film, titled "A Manual for Cleaning Women."

According to a report in Variety, the upcoming film is based on a collection of short stories of the same name written by Lucia Berlin. The collection includes 43 stories that revolve around the lives of women who are employed in different kinds of challenging jobs.

Almodóvar had earlier revealed that he would initially write the film’s script in Spanish and then translate it into English. The upcoming film will be his first feature-length English-language film. He had previously helmed an English short film called The Human Voice in 2020, which featured Tilda Swinton.

A Manual for Cleaning Women is currently in the initial stages of its development, bankrolled under the banners of Dirty Films, New Republic Pictures, and El Deseo. The former is owned by Blanchett herself.

Almodóvar is a well-known name in the Spanish film industry, with his films earning him mainstream success as well as a cult following. His films deal with bold narratives on subjects few filmmakers deem worthy to explore, such as identity, desire, and political freedom, and he has frequently collaborated with stars like Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz. The filmmaker is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globes as well.

Meanwhile, Blanchett was recently seen in Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley as well as the Adam McKay directorial Don’t Look Up.