This past week has been pretty great for filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood. Not only is she still celebrating the release of her big Netflix action film, “The Old Guard,” which has been getting pretty strong reviews, but she’s apparently already set up with a new film starring the Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, titled “Woman King.”
According to Variety, Davis is set to produce and star in the upcoming feature, “Woman King,” with Prince-Bythewood set to helm. The film is based on the real story of the Women Warriors of the Dahmey Ahosi tribe during the 18th and 19th centuries. Davis will portray the general of the all-women military unit that fought alongside her own daughter.
“We at JuVee are beyond excited to introduce this incredible story of the Women Warriors of The Dahomey Ahosi tribe to the world. It’s time that they truly occupy their place in history and in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s hands, it will be a gamechanger. This project could not be a more perfect example of our legacy,” said Davis and her producing partner Julius Tennon.
As mentioned, Prince-Bythewood is making a name for herself in the realm of big-budget spectacle thanks to “The Old Guard,” but her earlier career was anything but. While acclaimed, her previous films, “Love & Basketball,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” and “Beyond the Lights.” were humanistic dramas that didn’t feature any sort of military or superpowered action. So it’s clear with “The Old Guard” and now, “Woman King,” the filmmaker is continuing the trend of expanding her horizons. And honestly, we couldn’t be happier, as Prince-Bythewood is one of the best working today.
There’s no release date set for “Woman King,” but with Davis and Prince-Bythewood attached, you better believe we’ll be following this one closely.