Yesterday saw a trailer arrive for an Oscar-friendly drama about an American icon in Mr Rogers movie A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood. Now, we have an altogether different trailer for an Oscar-friendly drama about an American icon – this time the subject being Harriet Tubman, the escaped slave who embarked on a series of missions to free other slaves in the 1800s. In the lead role is Cynthia Erivo, who arrived with an almighty bang last year in Bad Times At The El Royale and Widows – and it looks like she’s going to put in another stellar performance here. Watch the Harriet trailer below.
This one comes from filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, who previously directed Eve’s Bayou, Talk To Me, and more recently an episode of Luke Cage among others. She’s co-written the screenplay with Gregory Allen Howard, who co-wrote Will Smith’s Ali in the early ‘00s. Harriet looks like it will cover a significant period of Tubman’s life – depicting her escape from slavery, as well as her abolitionist efforts. And while her story is better known in America, it’s perhaps less ubiquitously known across the world – something this film should hopefully change.
Starring alongside Erivo is singer-actor Janelle Monáe, who previously acted in the likes of Moonlight, Hidden Figures, and Welcome To Marwen, plus original Hamilton cast member Leslie Odom Jr., who played the co-lead role of Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s epic historical musical. Harriet arrives in American cinemas on 1 November, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.