Kerry Washington is back in familiar territory and she looks entirely at home. Over the last few years, she has steadily reestablished herself as one of Netflix’s most reliable leading women, balancing prestige, popularity, and power behind the scenes. With a slate of projects that travel well globally and spark conversation, Washington’s return feels like a continuation of quiet dominance.

And now, she is doing it again. Netflix has a new thriller on the way, one that carries a deceptively gentle title and a sharp edge beneath it. An Innocent Girl sounds restrained, even fragile but what exactly is this project hiding?

Kerry Washington is set to star in An Innocent Girl, Jaume Collet-Serra’s next psychological thriller for Netflix. She will also executive produce the thriller. She will be joined by James Marsden and Chloe East, forming a compact but high-impact cast. Collet-Serra who is known for sleek, tension-driven films like Carry On and Cliffhanger, will direct the story.

Beyond this film, Washington’s Netflix résumé is already formidable. She starred in Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the highest-reviewed installment in the franchise. In 2024, she executive produced and led Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight, which landed in Netflix’s Top 10 across more than 85 countries. This consistency makes An Innocent Girl feel like the next calculated step, not a detour.

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But a strong cast only sets the stage. The real tension lies in the story being told.

The story of An Innocent Girl centers on access and the danger that comes with it. According to Netflix’s official log line, the film follows a young, ambitious woman who is drawn into the orbit of a powerful Washington D.C. couple. What begins as seduction soon reveals itself as something far more dangerous, pulling her into a world shaped by s–, influence, and m-----.

The screenplay comes from Michael Mohan and Marc Guggenheim, with current revisions by Carly Wray. With Berlanti/Schechter Films producing, the film promises a polished political backdrop paired with intimate psychological stakes. 

Which makes the timing of the project especially interesting.

The production of An Innocent Girl is yet to begin, which leaves a huge gap between the release date and the completion of the film. But it does place it firmly on Netflix’s near-future slate. The timing aligns well with its cast’s current momentum, particularly James Marsden, who returns to the streamer after Dead to Me.

Marsden’s schedule remains stacked. He will reprise his Emmy-nominated role in Hulu’s Paradise and later make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Cyclops in Avengers: Doomsday. With Washington, Marsden, and Collet-Serra all operating at peak relevance, An Innocent Girl arrives with built-in anticipation.

As Netflix prepares to roll cameras, the title feels increasingly ironic. Innocence, after all, rarely survives proximity to power. 

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What do you think this thriller will reveal? Share your thoughts.