By Tribune Staff
NASHVILLE, TN — A site for an upcoming biopic about the legendary legislator Shirley Chisholm has been announced. “Shirley” starring Regina King is coming to Netflix. It was announced this week by the Shadow and Act website. The project is now filming in Cincinnati. It is from Participant Media and Regina and Reina King’s Royal Ties Productions. Royal Ties set a deal at Netflix in 2019.
It’s written and directed by John Ridley. The film also stars Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown with André Holland and Terrence Howard.
The film’s producers are Anikah McLaren and Elizabeth Haggard for Participant; Regina King and Reina King for Royal Ties Productions; John Ridley. Jeff Skoll and Ted Gidlow are executive producing.
A press release detailed the film’s premise. “Shirley” tells the intimate portrayal of trailblazing political icon Shirley Chisholm, the first Black Congresswoman and the first Black woman to run for President of the U.S, and the cost of accomplishment for Shirley herself. This film will tell the story of Chisholm’s boundary-breaking and historic presidential campaign, based on exclusive and extensive conversations with family, friends, and those who knew her best.”
There’s another Chisholm film in the works as well. Danai Gurira is attached to star in “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm,” which initially had Viola Davis earmarked to star. Uzo Aduba played Chisholm last year in the FX on Hulu limited series, “Mrs. America.”
