Cate Blanchett to play Martha Stewart in biopic ‘Good Thing’ about rise and fall of lifestyle empire

Film will trace the lifestyle icon’s journey from bestselling books and television fame to a highly publicised trial

Cate Blanchett is preparing to portray one of the most recognisable figures in American lifestyle media. The two time Oscar winner will star as Martha Stewart in the upcoming biographical film Good Thing, a project that will explore the rise, controversy and reinvention of the business mogul.

The film will be directed by Janicza Bravo, best known for her acclaimed film Zola. The screenplay has been written by Ricky Tollman. Blanchett will also produce the project through her company Dirty Films alongside Coco Francini, with producers Randy Manis and Neil Dodson also attached.

The title Good Thing references Stewart’s famous catchphrase, which became synonymous with her brand of homemaking advice, cooking and lifestyle guidance during the peak of her influence. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Stewart dominated the lifestyle media world through books, television and publishing.

Her television programme Martha Stewart Living became one of the defining lifestyle shows of its era. The half hour series focused on cooking, decorating and household crafts while promoting a polished vision of domestic life. The programme shared its name with Stewart’s magazine, which reached its peak circulation in 2002 with more than two million copies sold per issue.

Stewart’s influence extended far beyond television and magazines. After her company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public in 1999, she became the first self made female billionaire in the United States. Her brand represented an entire lifestyle industry built around cooking, gardening, home design and entertaining.

However, Stewart’s career also faced dramatic challenges. In late 2001 she came under legal scrutiny after selling shares in the pharmaceutical company ImClone Systems shortly before the stock value fell sharply. Investigators later determined that her broker, Peter Bacanovic, had informed her about confidential information regarding the company’s stock.

The situation escalated into a widely publicised legal case that drew intense media attention. In 2004 Stewart was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction and making false statements to federal investigators. She served five months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Despite the setback, Stewart eventually rebuilt her public reputation and business ventures, demonstrating a resilience that helped restore her place within popular culture.

Blanchett’s casting has already generated significant interest given her reputation for portraying complex and formidable figures on screen. Known for performances that combine elegance with intensity, she appears well suited to depicting Stewart’s transformation from media icon to controversial public figure and eventual comeback story.

Bravo’s direction is also expected to bring a distinctive tone to the project. The filmmaker gained critical recognition for Zola and has since directed episodes of several television series including Poker Face, In Treatment and Mrs America. She has also directed the BBC limited series The Listeners starring Rebecca Hall.

With Blanchett leading the cast and Bravo behind the camera, Good Thing aims to capture one of the most unusual and dramatic success stories in modern American business and media.