Viola Davis has reportedly been cast as Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, in an upcoming biopic, The Huffington Post reports. The historic film, The Fighting Shirley Chisholm, has reportedly been ordered to Amazon Studios.
The biographical picture will follow the political icon’s heroic journey. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968, representing New York’s 12th congressional district for seven terms. She later became the first black candidate for a major party’s nomination for President and the first woman to run for the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party in 1972.
Davis will star and produce the film alongside her company JuVee Productions, which she co-owns with her husband Julius Tennon. The biopic will serve as the first project to be released under their new feature film deal with Amazon.
“JuVee Productions is beyond excited about our new relationship with Amazon Studios. We share the same vision of creating a vast and rich array of narratives that are inclusive and reflective of our world,” Davis said in a statement. “We started this company with a fierce commitment to integrity and the encouragement of emerging and/or established artists who have the courage and talent to be disruptors. We are thrilled that we can continue to share our vision on a global scale alongside Amazon Studios. It is our legacy.”
The Fighting Shirley Chisholm does not have a premiere date at this time.