Photo by Jean-Baptiste Lacroix / AFP via Getty Images
Regina King To Portray Shirley Chisholm in Biopic
Oscar winning actress Regina King is set to star in and produce the story of Shirley Chisholm, America’s first Black congresswoman. John Ridley is set to write and direct the film, which is slated to begin production later this year.
“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,” says King. “To collaborate once again with my friend and mentor, John Ridley, and the team at Participant, makes this decade-long journey even sweeter.”
“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 comments. “I’m very thankful to both Regina and Reina trusting me to partner in telling the story of this truly remarkable individual”, in a interview with Variety.
The Chisholm biopic will reportedly focus on her 1972 presidential run. At the time, Chisholm was already the first Black woman to be elected to Congress and her campaign marked the first White House bid by a Black major-party candidate. Representing New York’s 12th district as a former educator, Chisholm pushed for broad reforms in public schools and was known for staffing her office entirely with women while serving in Congress.
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Regina King won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress If Beale Street Could Talk. She is also the recipient of four acting Primetime Emmy Awards, the most for an African-American performer.
King made her feature film directorial debut with the drama One Night in Miami earlier this year, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. Regina King became the second black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director since 2015.
