Movies
Viola Davis Is Real-Life Warrior General In Director Gina Prince-Bythewood THE WOMAN KING
Sony Pictures has released the thrilling first trailer for director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s THE WOMAN KING.
In theaters on September 16, the film stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and John Boyega.
The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for…
The story by Maria Bello with a screenplay by Dana Stevens and Gina Prince-Bythewood.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Viola Davis and director Gina Prince-Bythewood talked about the upcoming film. Prince-Bythewood said of THE WOMAN KING, “We didn’t want to show them as just one thing—badass women who killed. They also laughed and loved and cried. We wanted to show their full humanity, not just the cool part that that would look good in a trailer.”
Viola, you’ve said this film is your magnum opus.
Davis: I’ve never had a role like this before. It’s transformative. And to be a producer on it, and to know that I had a hand in bringing it to fruition…. There’s always a vision you have for your career, but there are very few roles as an actress of color. Dark skin with a wide nose and big lips. I’m just gonna continue to say it. Those stories are extraordinarily limited.
What were you most afraid of in taking on this project?
Davis: I knew what it would mean to us as Black people. Something that has never been done before. And what it would mean for Black women sitting in that movie theater. The responsibility is really high.
Prince-Bythewood: Fear is a thing you can let swallow you up, or push you to excellence. It’s scary as hell.
Gina, a few years back you tweeted that the postproduction team for The Old Guard was 85% women and that “talent has no gender.” This cast and crew were also woman-centered, in addition to being wildly diasporic.
Prince-Bythewood: This was absolutely the most diverse crew I’ve ever worked with. I take that responsibility very seriously and I have fought for it for years and years.
Photos: Ilze Kitshoff
COPYRIGHT: © 2021 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ALL IMAGES ARE PROPERTY OF SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. SALE, DUPLICATION OR TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
0 comments