During a SXSW Festival interview Director Paul Feig discussed how executive executives lacked confidence in female-centered comedy films until "Bridesmaids" proved its success like "The Hangover" did in 2009. The SXSW Festival marked an occasion where Paul Feig detailed studio executives' reluctance to fund female-oriented comedies subject to the outcome of "Bridesmaids." Many female writers including his friends struggled to pitch their female-led comedy projects because studio executives maintained they required "Bridesmaids" to be successful first.
Feig described the reception of "The Hangover" by noting that executives would not have asked to see the male ensemble on screen before making a new project. The industry demonstrates inconsistent standards about gender in comedy parts through this comment.
The comic film "Bridesmaids" starring Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph with Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne surpassed all projections when it achieved nearly $300 million in international revenue and received two nominations for Academy Awards. Before the movie's release Feig felt nervous through his mentioning how experts expected the first weekend revenue to reach only $13 million. The poor results would "ruin movies for women" according to his estimation.
Feig together with his production team modified specific areas in the script specifically to prevent movie viewers from drawing parallels between "The Hangover." The original script featured a wild Las Vegas adventure; however, after The Hangover established its Vegas bachelor party convention Feig chose to remove that storyline from the film. The team had decided against it because they did not wish to encounter criticism that the movie resembled a female version of "The Hangover." That was our kryptonite."
Bridesmaids proved to be a turning point for Hollywood which enabled female-driven comedies to achieve blockbuster success. The success of this project created new opportunities for telling diverse stories in the comedy genre because viewers clearly wanted broader perspectives in entertainment.
The story demonstrates how Feig overcame hurdles while producing "Bridesmaids" while he explains the significance of inclusive representation and bold choices within the movie industry.