*Viola Davis has scored the lead role in “Widows,” the upcoming heist movie from “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen, reports Variety.
Based on the 1983 British miniseries about a caper gone wrong, the story follows four armed robbers who get killed in a failed heist attempt, leaving their widows to finish the job.
“Gone Girl” screenwriter and novelist Gillian Flynn is on board to pen the script with McQueen for New Regency. Insiders said Jennifer Lawrence was approached to play one of the four leads, but scheduling conflicts forced her to pass on the part.
“Widows” marks McQueen’s first feature since winning the best picture Academy Award for “12 Years a Slave.” He has since been working on the HBO limited series “Codes of Conduct.”
According to Variety, HBO recently shelved “Codes of Conduct,” allowing McQueen to focus all his energy on “Widows.”
Davis, star of ABC’s “How to Get Away With Murder,” was recently seen as Amanda Waller in Warner Bros.’ “Suicide Squad,” and is expected to be in Oscar conversation for her upcoming performance in “Fences,” a part she already won a Tony for on Broadway.
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