by Sherri Kolade
Regina King will always be queen.
From her impeccable acting chops to her leading the way — this four-time Emmy Award winner is set to star as Shirley Chisholm in the upcoming feature biopic, Shirley. King will also serve as a producer on the project, ESSENCE Magazine reported.
According to Variety, the biopic will be based on Chisholm’s historic 1972 presidential campaign. Just four years prior, she became the first Black woman in Congress.
“Shirley Chisholm’s fearless determination has been an inspiration to so many of us, and with this film, we hope to inspire many generations to come,” King said in a statement in the magazine.
King will also produce the film under her company, Royal Ties Productions, with sister Reina King. Joining King behind the scenes is Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Anikah McLaren will serve as its executive producers. Also, Oscar-winning filmmaker John Ridley will serve as a director.
“Shirley Chisholm’s life as a politician and her groundbreaking career in Washington is a critical part of American history that is far too often overlooked,” Participant CEO David Linde said in a statement in the magazine. “We are thrilled to partner with John, Regina, Reina, and a tremendously talented creative team to share the story of this remarkable woman with audiences everywhere.”
King has graced our television screens as of late with inspiring and projects that we admire, including her recent feature directorial debut One Night in Miami, a very deserving work that could make King the first Black woman nominated for best director at the Oscars.
“Regina’s passion for bringing a complete and very human portrait of Shirley to life has been evident since literally the day we first met,” Ridley said in the magazine. “I’m very thankful to both Regina and Reina trusting me to partner in telling the story of this truly remarkable individual.”
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