This is amazing!
As reported on The Jasmine Brand, Whoopi Goldberg will star and produce a movie about Emmett Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. The film is called Till. According to the report, Till will depict the decision of Mamie Till-Mobley, to have an open-casket funeral. She made this decision to show the graphic tragedy of her son’s murder.
Whoopi is set to play Emmett’s grandmother, Alma Carthan. Actress Danielle Deadwer will play Emmet’s mom. She spoke on the production and said,
“It is a gift to learn the legacy and intimacies of our ancestors, those familial and communal, as is the life of Mamie Till-Mobley, a public leader and mother of the movement.”
Whoopi also has a behind-the-scenes role as a producer for MGM’s Orion Pictures. The Academy-Award-winning actress spoke on the film and said,
“We have waited a very long time to bring this historically necessary important film to people. And as we watch the repression of American History when it comes to people of color, it makes it even that more important. I couldn’t be with better people…”
Nigerian-American film director Chinonye Chukwu is directing the movie. No release date as of yet. We’ll keep you posted!
Take a look at a special TIME did on Emmett Till. *Warning, graphic.*