Janet Mock Feature Directorial Debut Will Be Based On Janet Cooke

Janet Mock and Ryan Murphy are officially reteaming on Mock’s feature film debut, “Janet.” It tells the story of disgraced Washington Post journalist Janet Cooke, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1981 for a completely fabricated story, according to Deadline. The film is being written by Mock and Ned Martel.

“Janet” is scheduled to shoot later this summer in Washington, D.C. The roles of Cooke, her editor Bob Woodward, and his boss Katherine Graham are currently being cast.

“Helming Janet Cooke’s story is a full circle moment for me,” said Mock. “I began my career as a journalist, dreaming of telling stories that mattered for a living. I am thrilled to partner with Netflix for my feature debut, centered on a young black woman at the Washington Post and her ambitious and complicated quest to make the front page — no matter what.”

Mock signed an overall deal with Netflix in 2019, making her the first black trans woman to secure an overall deal with a major studio.