Federal Way's Anita M. Cal Co-Creates ‘Undercard,’ A Knockout Drama Starring Wanda Sykes

Emmy Award-Winning Seattle native and Federal Way resident Anita M. Cal is making significant waves in national cinema as the co-writer and co-producer of the acclaimed boxing drama, “Undercard.” 

The gritty film, which features legendary comedian Wanda Sykes in her first dramatic leading role, is set for its theatrical release on February 27th, 2026. Cal, a University of Washington graduate, co-wrote the script with Director Tamika Miller, crafting a story about far more than just the sport.

As Cal shared, the film is "a gripping, heart-tugging tale about love, forgiveness, pain, and redemption between a mother and the son she abandoned." “Undercard” follows Sykes as Cheryl “No Mercy” Stewart, a former champion and recovering alcoholic fighting to rebuild her life by managing the faltering boxing career of her estranged 21-year-old son, Keith. The two are forced to confront the deep, unresolved trauma of their past. 

The film, which premiered to a sold-out crowd and won Best U.S. Narrative Feature at the Newport Beach Film Festival, promises an authentic and mesmerizing story grounded in culture, which Cal envisioned as "Creed-meets-Million Dollar Baby." 

“Undercard” opens in theaters nationwide on February 27, 2026

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