The amount of money a studio puts behind a project is often viewed as a major signifier of their faith in its potential. This potential is tied to multiple factors including the market it will be going into, the script, the cast and the director.

For the first time ever, a woman of color will be directing a live-action film with a budget of over $100 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ava DuVernay has been tied to an adaptation of “A Wrinkle In Time”, the 1964 Madeleine L’Engle novel, for some time. But the recent revelation of the milestone came when the project was found on a list released by the California Film Commission showing which projects receiving tax incentives.

DuVernay, who came into prominence for directing “Selma,” joins an elite group of directors of color to work on big budget projects, including F. Gary Gray with “Fast 8,” Tim Story with “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” and Justin Lin with “Star Trek: Beyond.” DuVernay is currently the first and only woman to achieve the milestone.

The film is expected to be released in 2017. While this is the first time of woman of color is being trusted with a film of this magnitude, it shouldn’t be forgotten that she, and others, should be given just as many opportunities as their white, male counterparts.

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