This summer's blockbusters were all about the women. Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa stole Mad Max: Fury Road right out from under the title character. Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire Dearing outran Jurassic World 's Tyrannosaurus Rex (in heels, no less!). Emilia Clarke's Sarah Connor didn't need saving by the man sent to rescue her in Terminator: Genisys. Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne was so popular that her character is getting equal billing in the 2018 sequel Ant-Man And The Wasp . Alicia Vikander wiped the floor with her blandly charismatic male co-stars as The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'s Gaby Teller. But perhaps none kicked as much butt as Rebecca Ferguson's enigmatic spy Ilsa Faust in Mission: Impossible — Rogue Protocol ... which is why it's so frustrating that Hollywood seems shy about handing her leading roles anytime soon.
It's true that the Swedish actress is in fairly high demand following her breakout role, but most of Ferguson's post-M:I roles all seem to be wives and love interests. Deadline has revealed that Ferguson is in talks to join the cast of The Snowman , an adaptation of the popular 2007 mystery novel by Norwegian crime author Jo Nesbø — in which she'll be playing second fiddle to Michael Fassbender. How much longer will Ferguson have to stand in the shadows of famous men? Where is her starring role?
Hopefully one of these movies she has lined up will lead her to A-list status sooner than later.
Florence Foster Jenkins
Ferguson has already filmed her follow-up to Rogue Nation: a supporting role in this 2016 biopic starring Meryl Streep as the eponymous heiress who used her position to become an opera singer despite the fact that she couldn't... you know... sing. The film also stars Hugh Grant as Florence's butler, and Ferguson will appear as the "long-suffering wife" of Grant's character (despite the fact that he's 24 years older than her.)
The Girl On The Train
In August, it was announced that Ferguson had joined the cast of The Girl On The Train , based on this year's bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins. Emily Blunt, hot off the success of her own action movies Edge Of Tomorrow and Sicario, will star as the titular "girl," alcoholic Rachel. Ferguson will have a supporting role as Anna, the mistress-turned-wife of Rachel's ex-husband, played by Captain America himself, Chris Evans.
The Snowman
The film that Ferguson is currently in talks to join will star Michael Fassbender as Harry Hole, a detective on the path of a serial killer who is murdering women and then leaving snowmen as the only clue. Although the role that Ferguson is in talks for wasn't disclosed, it's presumably Katrine Bratt, a recent transfer to the Oslo police department and Harry's co-worker/love interest.
Alien: Paradise Lost
Formerly known as the Untitled Prometheus Sequel, 20th Century Fox is reportedly pursuing Ferguson to to sign on to the Ridley Scott film for what is being described as "a peach of a major female role." She would appear alongside her possible Snowman co-star Fassbender, reprising his role as android David, and Noomi Rapace as archaeologist Elizabeth Shaw. This is the second film Fox is seeking Ferguson for, after she previously declined a role in Channing Tatum's Gambit in favor of The Girl On The Train.
Guernsey
If you're longing to see Ferguson get the chance to shine without a male co-star like Tom Cruise or Michael Fassbender in the way, then Guernsey might be just the movie for you. Based on the 2008 novel The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, the film will tell the story of Juliet, an author corresponding with the titular society about their efforts to defy the German occupy of their quaint island during WWII. Several A-list actresses have been in talks to star — including Anne Hathaway, Michelle Dockery, and Ferguson's Girl On The Train co-star Emily Blunt. Most recently, Kate Winslet was signed on to play Juliet, although she is no longer involved.
The fact that Ferguson is being considered to play a role previously occupied by Oscar-winner Winslet is a great sign for her career. Hopefully, the period of being relegated to supporting roles and love interests of famous male stars more than two decades her senior will be a relatively brief one for Ferguson, quickly allowing her to move on to the starring roles she so richly deserves.
