*Netflix has released images of Regina King as political trailblazer Shirley Chisholm in the upcoming new film, “Shirley.”
The film chronicles Chisholm’s groundbreaking run for president of the United States.
Per Tudum, here’s the synopsis: “In 1972, Chisholm became the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for president. But she was already a pioneer: In 1968, the Brooklyn native made history as the first Black woman elected to the US Congress. Written and directed by John Ridley (also an Oscar winner for his 12 Years a Slave screenplay), Shirley tells Chisholm’s inspirational story.”
Chisholm, who died at age 80 in 2005, represented New York’s 12th district from 1969 to 1983. According to a release from Netflix, “Shirley” chronicles Chisholm’s “audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.”
You can see King’s transformation as Chisholm in the photos below.
“Shirley” also stars late actor Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, and Reina King, with André Holland and Terrence Howard.
As People reports, King has spent 15 years working with sister Reina King to develop a movie about the politician.
“It was always a little disheartening for Reina and I to have so many people over the years of our lives not know who Shirley Chisholm was,” King previously told Harper’s Bazaar. “What she did was so pioneering. She was a true maverick and, you know, we use this term all the time, but she was a true first.”
“Shirley” debuts on Netflix on March 22.
Meanwhile, in 2018, it was reported that Viola Davis was set to star in and produce a biopic about Chisholm in a film for Amazon Studios.
Maggie Betts was tapped to direct “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” screenplay by Emmy-nominated writer Adam Countee.
In 2020, Deadline reported that Danai Gurira was cast to star in the film, with director Cherien Dabis set to refresh the Davis and Betts project for Amazon.
READ MORE: Viola Davis to Star in and Produce Biopic About Trailblazing Politician Shirley Chisholm
