Danai Gurira to Star in New Film 'The Fighting Shirley Chisholm'
Danai Gurira is set to play American Civil Rights icon Shirely Chisholm in the upcoming film 'The Fighting Shirley Chisholm'.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Danai Gurira is set to to play historical political figure Shirley Chisholm in The Fighting Shirley Chisholm. The semi-biopic film will tell the inspiring story of Chisholm, who was the first Black congresswoman in America. Gurira will portray Chisholm throughout her historic, but unsuccessful, campaign as the Democratic presidential nominee. The filmmakers have said that it will not be a traditional biopic but a retelling of a fierce icon.
<p><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/updated-this-is-not-a-burial-its-a-resurrection-oscar-nomination-/" target="_blank"><strong><em>READ: Lesotho Secures Debuts in Oscar Race with 'This is Not a Burial, It's A Resurrection'</em></strong></a><strong><em></em></strong></p><p>The film will depict Chisholm's 1972 presidential bid as the Democratic nominee and first Black woman presidential candidate. Her <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2020/11/danai-gurira-shirley-chisholm-movie.html?utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw" target="_blank">campaign was reportedly favourable with youth</a> who wanted to actively participate in political change. The story will particularly focus on Chisholm's campaign to gain enough delegates to speak for Black people at the Democratic Convention. <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-milestones" target="_blank">Elected into congress in 1968, Chisholm was an iconic Civil Rights figure</a> at the height of America's Civil Rights movement which saw the rise of the Black Panthers. Chisholm stood out also as a pioneer of women's rights and as an outspoken feminist. Gurira is sure to do justice to the role given that the Zimbabwean-American actress's strong, Black women-led roles. Furthermore, Gurira has been very vocal and active in the recent 2020 US elections.</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/uzo-aduba" target="_blank">Uzo Aduba</a></strong> recently <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/uzo-aduba-wins-2020-emmy-award-for-role-in-mrs-america/" target="_blank">snagged an Emmy Award</a> for her portrayal of Chisholm in Hulu series <em>Mrs America. </em>This news is a welcomed gift considering that <strong><a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/tag/kamala-harris" target="_blank">Kamala Harris</a></strong> recently made history as the first Black female Vice President of the United States of America. </p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p><span></span>An all female diverse production cast is set to direct and produce the film.<strong> </strong><strong>Cherien Dabis</strong>, <strong>Stephanie Allian </strong>will produce through Homegrown Studios and <strong>Gabrielle Ebron</strong> is the executive producer. Dabis is a veteran film and television director with recent credits on <em>Ozark</em>, <em>Ramy</em> and Apple's <em>Little Voic</em>e. Gurira is most famous for her breakout role in <em>The Walking Dead</em> and was last seen in theaters in the <em>Avengers</em> films, reprising her <em>Black Panther</em> role. </p><p>Unfortunately, Gurira's <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/americanah-series-axed-due-to-coronavirus-/" target="_blank">plans to direct and produce the <em>Americanah </em>series were recently dashed</a> because of scheduling conflicts and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
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