Viola Davis has been a powerful cinematic presence for years, a force that effortlessly transitions between blockbusters and character dramas. It’s only fitting, therefore, that one of Hollywood’s most dominating actors takes on the character of a forceful leader in her new picture.
Davis portrays Nanisca, the general of the all-female army of the real-life Dahomey Amazons, in Gina Prince-forthcoming Bythewood’s historical epic The Woman King. Imagine a real-life Dora Milaje from Black Panther, and you’ll be close.
Davis’ Nanisca is front-and-center in Empire’s exclusive new photograph – see above – surrounded by other warriors played by Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim (most recently seen playing a sorcerer in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness).
This is Prince-follow-up Bythewood’s to her Netflix blockbuster The Old Guard, which she directed in 2020. She also co-wrote the screenplay for The Woman King with Dana Stevens.
The Woman King is set to be released in UK theaters on September 16th.
Is “The Woman King” based on true story?
Viola Davis introduced the first trailer for “The Woman King” at CinemaCon on Monday, and its director, Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Old Guard,” “Love & Basketball”), vowed that the picture will “kick ass” when we finally saw it. Davis did not disappoint in his debut appearance, thrilling a raucous CinemaCon audience on its opening night.
The movie is a historical drama, epic, and action picture based on the untold true story of an African kingdom in the 18th century, and the first look shows her commanding an elite force of female soldiers.
Davis portrays Nanisca, the commander of an all-female military force defending the Kingdom of Dahomey, which was one of Africa’s most powerful states in the 18th and 19th centuries. She is joined by Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and John Boyega in the cast.
TriStar Pictures President Nicole Brown spoke about the real-life “badass ladies” at the core of the tale at CinemaCon on Monday night, comparing it to a real-life “Black Panther.” She and the film’s director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, also praised Davis’ role as a producer on the project, which he defended “like a general since day one.”
“The Woman King” was directed by Prince-Bythewood and is based on a tale by Maria Bello with a screenplay by Dana Stevens and Prince-Bythewood.
Cathy Schulman, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Maria Bello are the film’s producers. Peter McAleese is the executive producer.
On September 16, 2022, TriStar Pictures will release “The Woman King” exclusively in cinemas.