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Following Viola Davis’ new deal with Amazon Studios, the network now has the rights to a new series on Shirley Chisholm. And guess who will star as the first black woman elected to Congress? Oscar winner Viola Davis of course!
Davis will also be producing the new series as well.
Deadline reports;
Countee had long been interested in telling Chisholm’s story and his research led him to write the feature script on spec about the trailblazing congresswoman who never backed down as her bid drew ridicule and bigoted backlash. Chisholm ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968 from New York’s 12th congressional district and became the first black woman elected to Congress. In January 1972 she announced her presidential bid in a Baptist church in her Brooklyn district. That election ended with George McGovern getting the Democratic nomination and losing to incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon.
We can’t wait for the release of this project!