Production will soon be underway for Cynthia Erivo-starrer “Harriet.” Over a year and a half after news of the Harriet Tubman biopic originally broke, Focus Features has announced filming will begin in October. The cherry on top: “Eve’s Bayou” helmer Kasi Lemmons has signed on to direct.
Erivo will portray the famous abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor. “Harriet’s” other cast members include Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”), Joe Alwyn (“The Favourite”), Grammy-winning country artist Jennifer Nettles, and Clarke Peters (“The Wire”).
“Harriet” will trace Tubman’s escape from slavery as well as the multiple times she returned to the South to help free dozens of other slaves, highlighting Tubman’s unbelievable bravery and her determination to end the horrors of slavery. She could have completely washed her hands of her past after she escaped, but was adamant about freeing as many people as possible.
Lemmons wrote the script with Gregory Allen Howard (“Ali”). Howard is producing with Debra Martin Chase (“The Princess Diaries”) and Daniela Taplin Lundberg (“The Kids are All Right”). Focus Features and Universal Pictures International are handling distribution.
“This is the story of a seemingly powerless woman who accomplished the extraordinary to save her loved ones, and in the process became a leader of and inspiration for her people,” said Martin Chase and Taplin Lundberg. “While Harriet Tubman is a household name, most people don’t know the breadth of her story — not only was she a conductor on the Underground Railroad, but she was a spy for the Union army and remains one of the the few women to have led an armed expedition in U.S. history.”
“Tubman’s courageous life and the scope of her bravery is truly made to be told on the big screen. The countless lives she saved, during a time of such hatred and danger to herself, can be described only as heroic,” added Focus chairman Peter Kujawski. “We’re thrilled to be working with this incredibly talented group of filmmakers led by Kasi, Debra, Daniela, and Greg and this multi-talented group of actors in bringing Tubman’s life to screen.”
“Harriet” could mean a possible EGOT for Erivo. The Broadway actress’ turn in the stage production of “The Color Purple” landed her a Tony, a Grammy, and an Emmy. The latter was for her musical performance with “The Color Purple’s” cast on “Today.” You can catch Erivo next in “Widows,” a crime thriller seeing four women pulling off a heist in order to pay off their late husbands’ debt. It hits theaters November 16.
Lemmons won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature for “Eve’s Bayou.” Her other credits include “Talk to Me,” “Shots Fired,” and “Luke Cage.” Next, Lemmons will direct the first ep of Netflix’s upcoming “Madam C.J. Walker” limited series. Octavia Spencer will star as the history-making beauty entrepreneur and social activist and serve as EP alongside Lemmons.
