Actress Danai Gurira is set to play iconic presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm in a new film, Variety reports.
“The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” is a new film about the pioneering political maven who made history in 1972 as the first Black woman to run for president on the democratic ticket. Chisholm, a former NYC educational consultant, got into politics solely for her Brooklyn community’s betterment, her first campaign proving successful and allowing her to make history as the first Black congresswoman. Years later, Chisholm would follow up her congressional run with a historic run for president.
The new film focuses on Chisholm’s campaign and how it galvanized an entire generation of people. More importantly, how “the Chisholm Trail was populated by young people who sought social and political change during one of the most turbulent times in American history.” It was Chisholm’s time in Congress that gave her the confidence to run for president, realizing “that she could make real change by challenging the status quo through her efforts to gain enough delegates to speak for the people at the Democratic Convention.”
While Chisholm didn’t win the presidential election, her courage, political savvy and “unbought and unbossed” attitude awakened something in voters and changed the political landscape as we know it. The new film will be directed by Cherien Dabis and written by Emmy nominated screenwriter Adam Countee. Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures will produce with Gabrielle Ebron on board as executive producer.
According to Deadline, actress Uzo Aduba recently won an Emmy for her role as Chisholm in the FX series “Mrs. America.”
No word yet on when “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” will be released, but we can’t wait!
Congratulations, Danai!
Photo Courtesy of LA Times/Associated Press