Reese Witherspoon is definitely doing something right when it comes to TV production. First, Apple invested in three shows being produced by the Hollywood actress, which will be among the most prominent of Apple’s original TV efforts.
Now, a new report claims that Laurene Powell Jobs, philanthropist, media mogul and widow of the late Steve Jobs, is helping to finance Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine.
Supporting women in Hollywood
The news was broken by Bloomberg Quint. Powell Jobs will make the investment in Hello Sunshine through her organization Emerson Collective. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. However, Powell Jobs is reportedly interested in the company’s efforts to improve opportunities for women in the movie business.
“We very intentionally chose strategic investors who passionately and unequivocally support our mission of changing the landscape for women by putting them at the center of every narrative we create, elevate and champion,” said Sarah Harden, CEO of Hello Sunshine.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index claims that Laurene Powell Jobs has a net worth of $19.2 billion.
Reese Witherspoon’s Apple connection
While Laurene Powell Jobs is not connected to Apple in any official capacity (other than, presumably, as an investor), this is still a nice example of serendipity. Apple is already clearly high on Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine based on its previous dealings with the company.
The most prominent of Apple’s three shows being produced through Hello Sunshine is a comedy starring Witherspoon, Jennifer Anniston, and Steve Carell. It is set at a morning TV talk show, and sounds a bit like The Office.
The second is a show based on Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection, You Think It, I’ll Say It. It was originally scheduled to star Kristen Wiig, but the star dropped out of the comedy due to scheduling conflicts. She will stay on as an executive producer.
The final Witherspoon-produced show is a drama based on the bestselling book Are You Sleeping. It tells the story of a Serial-style podcast team who reopen a long-closed murder investigation.
Reese Witherspoon is rumored to be among the Hollywood stars attending Apple’s March 25 media event.
