Lashana Lynch has joined the cast of TriStar Pictures’ The Woman King, starring Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis and International Emmy nominee Thuso Mbedu.
The Old Guard director Gina Prince-Bythewood is helming. The film is a historical epic inspired by true events that took place in the Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. The story follows Nanisca, general of the all-female military unit, and Nawi, an ambitious recruit, who together fought enemies who violated their honor, enslaved their people and threatened to destroy everything they’ve lived for.
Based on an original screenplay by Dana Stevens and current draft by Dana Stevens and Prince-Bythewood, the film is being produced by Academy Award-winning producer Cathy Schulman though her Welle Entertainment. She the EP and showrunner of Showtime’s upcoming series The First Lady, which also stars Davis. Davis and Julius Tennon of JuVee Productions and Maria Bello of Jack Blue Productions also are producing.
Nicole Brown and Shary Shirazi are overseeing the project for TriStar Pictures.
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“Lashana is next-level dope — not just her incredible chops, but who she projects to the world,” said Prince-Bythewood. “She embodies these true-life warriors, and we are so lucky she is coming to play.”
Lynch starred alongside Brie Larson in the 2019 box office hit Captain Marvel. She next will be seen opposite Daniel Craig in No Time to Die and Debbie Tucker Green’s Ear for Eye, the feature film adaptation of her well-received play that debuted at the Royal Court in 2018. She currently is in production on TriStar Pictures and Netflix’s Matilda, based on the award-winning hit West End musical. Lynch is repped by ICM Partners, Alan Siegel Entertainment, BWH Agency in the UK, Sloane, Offer.
