Shirley MacLaine to Star in 'Margret and Stevie' Directed by Matthew Weiner

Oscar winner MacLaine will play Margret Rey, co-creator of the Curious George character, in the upcoming film.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine is set to headline the Matthew Weiner-directed film 'Margret and Stevie', inspired by the life of Margret Rey, co-creator of the Curious George character and books. The film will center around Rey later in life as publishers try to reshape her literary legacy, forcing her to confront memories of her past and find an unlikely companion in Stevie.

Why it matters

This project marks a high-profile collaboration between acclaimed director Matthew Weiner and legendary actress Shirley MacLaine, exploring the life of a pioneering children's book author whose story has not been widely told on the big screen. The film aims to shed light on Margret Rey's remarkable life and the challenges she faced in protecting her creative legacy.

The details

Inspired by the life of Margret Rey, co-creator of the Curious George character and books, 'Margret and Stevie' will center around Rey (played by MacLaine) later in life as publishers circle to reshape her legacy and rewrite her place in literary history. As pressure mounts, Margret is forced to confront memories of the war she survived decades earlier and the journey that brought her to America. Margret finds an unlikely confidant and companion in Stevie, whom she befriends, and their sharp-edged friendship becomes a lifeline as Margret works to protect her story and reclaim authorship of her own life.

  • The film is currently in production.

The players

Shirley MacLaine

An Oscar-winning actress with over 50 feature film credits, including a Best Actress Oscar win for 1983's 'Terms of Endearment'. She has also been nominated 6 times for Emmys and has won 7 Golden Globes, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Matthew Weiner

The creator, executive producer, director, and writer of the acclaimed TV series 'Mad Men'. He was also an executive producer on 'The Sopranos' and created, executive produced, directed, and wrote the Prime Video series 'The Romanoffs'.

Margret Rey

The co-creator of the Curious George character and books, whose life and legacy the film 'Margret and Stevie' is inspired by.

Stephanie Gillis

The writer of 'Margret and Stevie', who is a Writers Guild and Peabody Award-winning, two-time Emmy-nominated writer known for her work on 'The Simpsons'.

Rohm Feifer Entertainment

The production company financing and producing 'Margret and Stevie', founded in 2023 by industry veterans Kara Feifer and Elisabeth Rohm and dedicated to female-forward, inspirational storytelling.

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What’s next

The film is currently in production, with additional casting underway. No release date has been announced yet.

The takeaway

This project shines a spotlight on the remarkable life and creative legacy of Margret Rey, co-creator of the beloved Curious George books, and the challenges she faced in protecting her story. With acclaimed director Matthew Weiner and Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine attached, the film promises to be a powerful exploration of artistic authorship, memory, and the enduring impact of one woman's remarkable life.