Viola Davis has been cast as Harriet Tubman in an upcoming HBO biopic of the famous abolitionist, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Based on Kate Clifford Lawson’s Bound For The Promise Land and produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV, the film will focus on Tubman’s heroic efforts to lead escaped slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Kirk Ellis, who reminded us how unlikable the second president was in HBO’s John Adams miniseries, is executive producing the project along with Davis. (Ellis is also working on the upcoming All The Way, starring Bryan Cranston as Lyndon Johnson, a.k.a. the president who knocks.) Also on the producers’ list is Entourage creator Doug Ellin—here’s hoping we don’t see too many scenes of Harriet Tubman getting unbelievably awesome career news before boarding a chartered jet with her bros.
Nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in The Help, Viola Davis recently wrapped up the first season of ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder.