Lilly Wachowski struggles to fund new film with all-trans cast

Lilly Wachowski, co-creator of ‘The Matrix’, has reported difficulties securing financing for her upcoming film, ‘The Hunted’. The director stated on KCRW’s ‘The Business’ podcast that while the script has garnered interest, Hollywood financiers are reluctant to fund the project due to its “wall-to-wall trans cast.”

‘The Hunted’ is a dystopian political thriller with an estimated $10 million budget. Co-written with Mickey Ray Mahoney, the story is set in a version of America where transgender people are marginalized and persecuted. The plot follows two transgender women as they investigate a crime that leads to the highest levels of government.

In response to the funding challenges, Wachowski is exploring alternative ways to bring the project to the public. She recently organized a live table read at the Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles. The film is currently in development through Wachowski’s Anarchists United and Natasha Lyonne’s Ariadne banner.