Taraji P. Henson is directing her first movie. Variety confirms the Oscar-nominated actress will helm, produce, and star in Bron Studios’ high school comedy “Two-Faced.” The project sees a Black high school senior facing off against a popular principal with a history of racism.
“Two-Faced” centers on Joy, “whose chances to attend the college of her dreams are threatened by her wildly popular and charismatic school principal after she confronts him with evidence of his racist past. With the help of her friends, the student sets out to expose the principal but quickly learns that he is not above waging all-out-war against the students trying to take him down,” the source teases.
Henson will appear in “Two-Faced” as Joy’s mother, and will produce via her TPH Entertainment. Sharla Sumpter Bridgett (“Prince of Peoria”) is also producing.
Recent UCLA MFA Screenwriting Program grad Cat Wilkins penned the script, which earned her first place in the 2020 UCLA Screenwriters Showcase’s feature comedy category. She will exec produce, too.
“After two decades spent in front of the camera, I’m thrilled to finally jump behind it for my feature directorial debut! What first attracted me to this project was Joy – she is the character I needed to see in films growing up, but never had,” Henson said. “I can’t wait to bring this hilariously heartfelt script by Cat Wilkins to life!”
Henson previously helmed a 2020 episode of her Fox musical drama “Empire.” She is set to reprise her iconic, Golden Globe-winning role of Cookie in a spinoff which she’s developing under her first-look deal with 20th Century Fox. Henson nabbed two Emmy nominations for her work in “Empire,” which concluded its six-season run this year.
“Hidden Figures,” “Person of Interest,” and “Hustle & Flow,” are among Henson’s many notable screen credits. She received an Oscar nod for her supporting turn in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Her previous producing credits include “What Men Want” and “Proud Mary,” both of which she also toplined.
Henson has been vocal for the need for better representation and inclusion in Hollywood as well as the racial and gender pay gap. “[Pay inequity is] not going to change until privilege reaches across the table and helps. Otherwise, we’re playing a rerun,” she has said. “The only narrative that I wish I could change is my money. It’s almost like they want this incredible performance for a discount price. The black movies — we don’t get big budgets. I have to wait until Scorsese or someone with a franchise film calls.”
