‘Underground Railroad’s Thuso Mbedu To Star Opposite Viola Davis In ‘The Woman King’

On Wednesday afternoon, April 28th, deadline.com announced an exclusive article stating that Thuso Mbedu is lining up her next feature film as she has come on to TriStar Pictures’ The Woman King starring Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis.

“The depth and complexity of emotional life, her authentic beauty, and regalness is potent. We were mesmerized by Thuso Mbedu. We wanted Woman King / Nawi to be the vehicle to introduce her on the big screen” said Viola Davis and Julius Tennon of JuVee Productions.

Viola Davis, leading star of the ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ series also expressed her excitement in a recent tweet citing the article.

Very excited!! 💛💛🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿https://t.co/cMQKwcu8kQ
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) April 28, 2021

The Woman King 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.“

Thuso Mbedu is a South African actress. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in the telenovela Is’Thunzi, which has been called “one of the most compelling television programmes on South African television” by Mail & Guardian. She is also played Kitso Medupe in the soap opera Scandal!,Nosisa in Isibaya, and Boni Khumalo in Saints and Sinners. She is set to star in the highly-anticipated, upcoming Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad, and will also star alongside Viola Davis in the upcoming historical epic The Woman King, directed by Love & Basketball director Gina Prince-Bythewood.

Thuso Mbedu (source: elle.com)

“Thuso is a generational talent. Her craft, her work ethic, her depth, her passion inspired us all and I cannot wait to play. She is a warrior,” said Prince-Bythewood, the director of the movie. The International Emmy-Award nominated South African actress is already expected to be one of the big breakouts of 2021 as she set to star in Amazon and Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad. The project will bow on May 14 is based on Colson Whitehead’s best-selling novel, which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Jenkins hand-picked for the part of Cora, one of the lead roles, making her the first South African actress to lead a US/International series.