Oscar-winner Viola Davis has signed on to play Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman ever elected to Congress, in a new biopic at Amazon Studios.

Chisholm was elected in 1969 to represent New York’s 12th district, which she did until 1983. She was a major Civil Rights leader, and the first woman from a major political party to run for president in 1972. She passed away in 2005.

Maggie Betts (“Novitiate”) will direct the feature from a screenplay by Adam Countee (“Silicon Valley”). The project is part of a first-look deal with Davis’ JuVee production company.

Source: THR