Lily James’ “Swiped” Debuts on Streaming Platforms as Star Takes On Producer Role

British actress Lily James stepped into dual roles as star and producer today as her biographical drama “Swiped” launched exclusively on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ internationally.

The film chronicles the journey of Whitney Wolfe Herd, who co-founded Tinder before launching Bumble and becoming the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire. James portrays Wolfe Herd while navigating the challenges of workplace harassment and Silicon Valley’s male-dominated tech culture.

Breaking Into Production

For James, “Swiped” marks her debut as a producer through her newly-launched company Parodos Productions. The Emmy-nominated actress, known for “Pam & Tommy” and “Cinderella,” took on the additional responsibility to have “a real voice in the storytelling” given the significance of Wolfe Herd’s entrepreneurial legacy.

“It just felt really important and key given who I’m playing, this sort of like legendary entrepreneur and powerhouse,” James explained in recent interviews. The 36-year-old actress described the producing experience as “a real learning curve” that she’s excited to continue pursuing.

Tackling Silicon Valley’s Toxic Culture

The film explores Wolfe Herd’s experiences with alleged sexual harassment during her time at Tinder, before she founded the women-first dating app Bumble. James had to research the role without direct communication with Wolfe Herd due to non-disclosure agreements stemming from Wolfe Herd’s legal settlement with Tinder.

“One of the things that really compelled me to want to be a part of this project was this exploration of women being silenced,” James told RadioTimes.com. The actress emphasized the film’s relevance to ongoing workplace harassment conversations, noting it addresses “how to take away someone’s right to speak their truth.”

From College Graduate to Tech Billionaire

Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg (“Unpregnant”), “Swiped” traces Wolfe Herd’s trajectory from a recent college graduate to co-founding two revolutionary dating apps that transformed modern romance. The film depicts her innovative marketing strategies that helped Tinder conquer the millennial dating market before she launched Bumble with its groundbreaking women-first approach.

“We meet Whitney as she’s just left college, full of this kind of youthful enthusiasm and conviction and drive,” James described. The narrative follows Wolfe Herd’s challenges in the “notoriously male-dominated tech space” and her eventual triumph as she took Bumble public.

Critical Themes and Industry Impact

The biographical drama arrives during heightened awareness of workplace harassment and gender equality in corporate environments. James positioned the film as contributing to vital conversations about women’s representation in leadership roles across industries.

“Tech is still a very male-dominated space, a lot of industries that goes across all industries really,” James noted at the film’s European premiere. She expressed hope that celebrating “such a formidable woman” would encourage discussions about ensuring “more seats at the table and women in leadership positions”.

The film’s release on major streaming platforms makes Wolfe Herd’s story accessible to global audiences, potentially inspiring entrepreneurs while highlighting the personal costs of challenging established tech industry dynamics.