The cast and creative team of The Morning Show walked the red carpet in New York on Tuesday night to celebrate the premiere of the Apple TV+ drama’s fourth season.
The event, held at the Museum of Modern Art, also became a moment of reflection on progress for women in entertainment, following a recent San Diego State University study that revealed female creators in streaming are now at 36%, the highest number to date.
Reese Witherspoon, who stars in and executive produces the series, welcomed the findings.
“I think that’s very heartening,” she said.
“It means that all the progress and all the pushing has actually paid off. Women’s stories are important, they matter. And we’re seeing that reflected in the market.”
Director Mimi Leder shared that inclusivity has been central to the show’s approach since the beginning, noting that she and showrunner Charlotte Stoudt have consistently prioritized women in leadership.
“We have a token guy once or twice,” Leder said with a smile.
“People always see Charlotte and I and a large group of women running the show, but we don’t sit there and say ‘We’re women running the show!’ We’re just filmmakers and storytellers. That’s a big theme this season.
Can women do it better? When you’re given the keys of power, be careful what you wish for. Do you really want it? And be careful how you wield it. It’s a slippery slope.”
Outside of the premiere, Witherspoon has also been speaking about the importance of women embracing artificial intelligence in Hollywood.
In a recent interview with Glamour, she explained that as a producer she has always been eager to adapt to change and support women in emerging industries.
“I’m looking forward to how media is evolving and how I can help be part of bringing women along in those emerging industries. And now we’re doing it with AI,” she said.
The Oscar winner stressed that while many remain skeptical, AI is set to play a key role in the future of filmmaking.
“People can be sad and lament it all they want, but the change is here,” she explained, adding that creativity and human expression will always remain central to storytelling.
Witherspoon also shared how she uses AI tools in her personal life, citing apps like Perplexity and Vetted AI to simplify decisions such as shopping.
“If anyone wants to buy a blender, it’ll show six different blenders and also recommend the best product,” she said.
She added that her go-to assistant, Simple AI, has proven to be “an incredible tool to save time,” even helping with everyday tasks like scheduling doctor’s appointments.
For Witherspoon, whether it’s through The Morning Show or the rise of AI, the message is clear, women should be at the forefront of shaping the future of storytelling and technology.
