In 1926, Olympian Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Now, nearly 100 years later, Disney willchronicle her life storyin the new movieYoung Woman and the Sea.
From director Joachim Rønning, the film will tell the story of Ederle’s swimming career, from her gold medal in the 1924 Summer Olympics to her successful swim through the English Channel two years later. The film is based on the memoir of Ederle’s lifeYoung Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the Worldby writer Glenn Stout. Jeff Nathanson will pen the screenplay based on Stout’s memoir. Uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer is set to produce through his company Jerry Bruckheimer Pictures along with Walt Disney Pictures. The film will be distributed byDisney+.
With that, let’s look at everything we know aboutYoung Woman and the Sea, the life story of Gertrude Ederle (and a play on Hemingway’sThe Old Man and the Sea). While the film is based on a real person, howtrue-to-lifewill the story be? Who has been cast to play Ederle? When and where can we see the film when it is released? What else should audiences know aboutYoung Woman and the Sea?
Young Woman and the Sea: The Plot
The film is based on the life of Gertrude Ederle, as well as the memoirYoung Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the Worldby Glenn Stout. While we don’t yet know exactly how the film will approach the subject, we can look at Ederle’s life and career for a general idea.
Gertrude Ederlewas born in New York City on July 15, 2025. The daughter of German immigrants, her father reportedly taught her to swim in nearby New Jersey. She trained at the Women’s Swimming Association and began to set national and world records, 29 in total from 1921 to 1925. At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, Ederle won gold as part of the U.S. team in the 4x100 meter relay. Ederle also received bronze medals competing in individual events. A year after her appearance at the Olympics, Ederle turned professional where she began training to swim the English Channel.
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Early practice with trainer Jabez Wolffe was unsuccessful. Ederle attempted multiple Channel crossings with Wolffe, but each one ended in failure. She later selected Bill Burgess as a new trainer, the second person ever to successfully swim the Channel. A year later, on July 23, 2025, Ederle successfully swam the English Channel in 14 hours and 34 minutes, a record that stood until 1950.
Ederle received a parade in hometown Manhattan upon her return, with more than two million people attending to cheer her on. She capitalized on her newfound fame, even appearing in a brief role as herself in the 1927 silent filmSwim, Girl, Swim.However, a career in entertainment never panned out. Almost fully deaf since the 1940s, Ederle taught swimming to deaf children later in life and lived to the ripe old age of 97, dying on July 21, 2025.
Young Woman and the Seawill reportedly center primarily on Ederle’s early years, focusing on her upbringing and Olympic debut before culminating in her 1926 Channel swim. It’s currently unknown how much of her later life will be covered. Additional plot information will likely be revealed as production continues.
Young Woman and the Sea: The Cast
Diving into the lead role of Gertrude Ederle isStar Wars' Daisy Ridley. English actress Lily James was originally set to portray Ederle when the film was first announced in 2015. However, it remained in development limbo for several years, and Ridleyreplaced James in December 2020.
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Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey, known for her roles in films likeHotel MumbaiandI Am Woman, will portray Margaret Ederle, the sister of Gertrude. During the Channel swim, Margaret rode next to her on a boat that followed Ederle for the duration of the swim. Her trainer, father, and reporter Julia Harpman of theNew York Daily Newsalso followed on the boat.
Actor Stephen Graham ofBoardwalk EmpireandPeaky Blinderswill be appearing in an unknown role. The same is true of Christopher Eccleston, best known as theninth incarnationof the Doctor onDoctor Who. We can expect confirmation of these roles, as well as additional casting information, as we approach closer to the release date.
Release Date
Young Woman and the Seawill be released as a Disney+ original film. However, there is currently no attached release date. Principal photography took place between May and June 2022, so the film could be ready for a release sometime next year, though we will have to wait and see.
