“Rafiki” writer-director Wanuri Kahiu and “School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play” scribe Jocelyn Bioh are teaming up on a film adaptation of “Once On This Island.” Kahiu will helm the project for streamer Disney+, and Bioh is penning the script. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news.
Originally staged in 1990, “Once On This Island” is set in the French Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, and centers on Ti Moune, a brave young peasant girl who falls in love with an aristocrat. “Against this backdrop, social class differences play out while the island gods wager a bet of what is stronger, love or death,” the source describes.
With a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, “Once On This Island” is based on Rosa Guy’s 1985 novel “My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl.” It has staged productions on Broadway and the West End, and went on tour last year. Its 1995 London production received the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, while its 2017 Broadway run won the Tony for Best Revival.
“Rafiki” made history as the first Kenyan feature to premiere at Cannes Film Festival. The lesbian love story made headlines in 2018 when it was banned in Kenya due to its LGBTQ subject matter. Kahiu refused to alter the film, and the ban was temporarily lifted so “Rafiki” would be eligible for Oscars consideration.
“From a Whisper” is among Kahiu’s other directing credits. The filmmaker has a packed slate: she’s attached to direct film adaptations of YA novels “The Black Kids” and “The Thing About Jellyfish,” and is collaborating with Viola Davis and sci-fi novelist Nnedi Okorafor on a television project based on “Wild Seed,” the first book of Octavia Butler’s Patternist series, for Amazon Prime. Kahiu is the co-founder of African art collective Afrobubblegum.
Bioh’s next production, the original musical “Goddess,” is expected to premiere at Berkeley Rep next spring, with a Broadway run to follow. Her other plays include “African Americans” and “Nollywood Dreams.” She has written for “She’s Gotta Have It,” “Russian Doll,” and HBO Max’s upcoming adaptation of “Americanah” starring Lupita Nyong’o. Bioh founded digital platform Black Women on Broadway with Danielle Brooks (“Orange Is the New Black”) and Amber Iman (“Soul Doctor”).
