Danai Gurira to play pioneering politician Shirley Chisholm in film

The story of the first black MP is heading to the big screen.

Danai Gurira will star in “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm”, portraying the titular political pioneer in a story that follows Chisholm’s historic presidential race in 1972.

Cherien Dabis will direct the film, from a screenplay written by Adam Countee. Stephanie Allain will produce through her Homegrown Pictures banner, with Gabrielle Ebron as executive producer.

Although Gurira will play Chisholm, the film is not a biopic, rather it focuses on the campaign and how “the Chisholm Trail was populated by young people who sought social and political change during one of the periods. the most turbulent in American history. ” At the time, Chisholm had already made history as the first black congressman and, according to a description in the article, “recognized that she could make real change by challenging the status quo through his efforts to win enough delegates to speak on behalf of the people at the Democratic Convention. “

“The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” has already been set up at Amazon Studios with Viola Davis starring and producing under her JuVee Productions banner. In September, Uzo Aduba won an Emmy for playing the political icon in the FX miniseries “Mrs. America.”

UTA Independent Film Group packed the project and UTA represents Allain, Dabis, Countee and Gurira. Gurira, who is also set to star in the upcoming “Black Panther” sequel, is directed by James Suskin. Allain is headed by Brian Dobbins. Dabis is represented by Rosalie Swedlin at Anonymous Content.