It’s been only a few days since Viola Davis’ JuVee Productions inked a first-look film deal with Amazon Studios, and the first project under that deal has already been set.
The Oscar winner will produce the film The Fighting Shirley Chisholm, and she will star as Chisholm, as well.
Deadline broke the news of the film, which was the subject of a heated bidding war. Homegrown Pictures’ Stephanie Allain and Mel Jones are producing with JuVee’s Davis and Julius Tennon.
Maggie Betts, who directed Novitiate recently, will direct from an Adam Countee-written script. Countee reportedly has been interested in writing the story of Chisholm, the first woman and person of color to seek the nomination for United States president for a major political party, for some time. She was the first Black woman elected to Congress, as well.
Davis can currently be seen on the small screen in her Emmy Award-winning role in How to Get Away with Murder and on the big screen in Steve McQueen’s Widows.
Just announced Wednesday, her film with Allison Janney, Troupe Zero, will bow at Sundance in January.
Davis is the first Black actress to be nominated for three Oscars, taking one home for Fences.
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Major! Viola Davis’ Production Company Signs First-Look Film Deal With Amazon Studios
