Yahoo Movies Cynthia Erivo Stars in the Powerful First Trailer for 'Harriet'
A new biopic about Harriet Tubman's extraordinary life will chronicle the abolitionist's escape from slavery, and her work to free other men and women through the Underground Railroad in the years leading up to the Civil War.
Here's what we know about the movie so far.
Cynthia Erivo will star as Harriet Tubman.
"It’s a new way of looking at Harriet,” Erivo said, describing the film to People. "She was a hero, and now we get to really tell her story because we haven’t really heard her story. It’s been long overdue."
Erivo also noted that she and Tubman share a similar stature. "I knew she was small like me,” Erivo said. “I knew she was 5 foot, or 4'11''. It fascinated me because I realize this woman was extraordinary because she was small and like me in every sense of the word."
Other members of the cast include Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Joe Alwyn, Jennifer Nettles, and Clarke Peters.
The film will be directed by Kasi Lemmons.
He will also co-write the script, along with Gregory Allen Howard.
The film's first powerful trailer, which details how Tubman got free, and why she went back to save others, just dropped.
Watch it here:
Focus Features released the first two stills from the film earlier this year. See the first one up top and the second down right here.
Each of the photos feature Cynthia Erivo starring as Harriet Tubman.
The biopic promises to be action-filled.
"This will have action, adventure. It will be epic and sweeping," Charles King, an executive producer on the project told Entertainment Weekly. "This will show what an incredible badass Harriet Tubman was."
The film will premiere later this year.
An exact date has yet to be shared publicly.
Another project about Tubman starring Viola Davis is also reportedly in the works.
That one will air on HBO, though a premiere date for that project is also still under-wraps.
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