Rachel Brosnahan Set to Direct Film About Aunt Kate Spade, Late Designer’s Pals ‘Confused and Hurt’ (Exclusive)

In a twist that has stunned friends and fashion insiders alike, the family of the late designer Kate Spade — who for years after her passing demanded total privacy and warned loved ones never to speak publicly about her — are now making a feature film about her life.

Sources tell Straight Shuter that Kate’s niece, former Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan, is stepping into the director’s chair for the first time — and Kate’s estranged husband, Andy Spade, is serving as executive producer. The move has left many in the late designer’s inner circle “confused and hurt,” according to one insider.

“For years, everyone was told to stay quiet — no interviews, no books, no documentaries,” says a source close to the family. “Now suddenly, the same people who demanded silence are making their own movie. It feels hypocritical.”

After Kate’s tragic death in 2018 at age 55, family members insisted on protecting her privacy, threatening to cut off anyone who spoke to the press. “They wanted to control the narrative then — and they still do,” the insider adds.

The as-yet-untitled project is said to be a deeply personal look at the beloved designer’s creative life and struggles. But behind the scenes, tensions are simmering.

“Everyone adored Kate,” says a former colleague. “They just wish the people who silenced her story for years weren’t the ones finally telling it.”