Rising film star, Cynthia Erivo, will play the iconic gun-toting Harriet Tubman as she travels through the Underground Railroad in the new biopic, Harriet.
Cynthia Erivo transforms into Harriet Tubman in new biopic trailer https://t.co/CRGS9rC1HN
— LAT Entertainment (@latimesent) July 23, 2019
The film follows Tubman, who was born into slavery, as she escapes to find freedom in Philadelphia, ultimately returning to rescue her family and other slaves.
“The story is such an important one to tell, and it’s crazy that it hasn’t been told yet,” Erivo told NME News. “I think that everyone needs to learn about this woman. There’s always a fear when you’re portraying a woman who means a great deal to a lot of people, and you want to make sure that you do her justice.”
Erivo, a Grammy and Tony Award winner, is best known for her work on Broadway in The Color Purple and films such as Widows and A Bad Day at the El Royale.
The actress will star alongside Janelle Monâe (Hidden Figures) and Leslie Odom Jr. Odom Jr. will be playing abolitionist William Still who helped organize and finance many of Tubman’s trips on the Underground Railroad.
The script was written by Gregory Allen Howard who is known for his work on Ali and Remember the Titans and directed by Kasi Lemmons who has worked on Black Nativity and Talk to me.
Check out the trailer below.
Harriet hits theaters November 1.
