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It’s only been a few days since the announcement was made that Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis signed a first look film deal with Amazon Studios through her production company JuVee Productions and the first project under that agreement has been unveiled.
Viola Davis is set to produce and star in The Fighting Shirley Chisholm. Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress (1968) and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972). Davis will play the role of Chisolm.
According to Deadline, Amazon Studios acquired the title in what was described as a fierce bidding war. Homegrown Pictures’ Stephanie Allain (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People) and Mel Jones will be producing alongside JuVee Productions. Set to direct will be Novitiate‘s Maggie Betts with the screenplay written by Adam Countee.
Viola Davis is currently starring in the Steve McQueen directed screenplay Widows, as well as Amazon Studios’ Troupe Zero, alongside Alison Janney and Jim Gaffigan.
