Viola Davis to Partner with Tony Kushner on Political Film

On the heels of her history-making Emmy win for HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER last weekend, Viola Davis will be working with some high caliber theatre and big screen folks on her upcoming projects.

Variety writes that Davis will soon tackle "projects about civil rights activist and congresswoman Barbara Jordan, to be directed by Tony Kushner; and Vee-Jay Records, which preceded Motown."

Civil Rights leader and history-making politician, Barbara Jordan was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction, the first southern black woman elected to the United States House of Representatives, and the first African-American woman to give the keynote speech at a Democratic National Convention (she was also a possible running mate for Jimmy Carter that year). Jordan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994.

As previously reported, Davis will star opposite Denzel Washington in a TV adaptation of August Wilson's FENCES. Her portrayal of 'Rose' on Broadway won her a 2010 Tony for Best Actress in a Play. The actress has also starred on the Great White Way in KING HEDLEY II and SEVEN GUITARS. The two-time Oscar nominee is also widely recognized for her work in such notable films as THE HELP and DOUBT.

Kushner won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES, which also won the Tony Award for Best Play that year. Part two, ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA, won the 1994 Tony for Best Play. Kushner was also nominated for writing the book and lyrics for the Broadway musical CAROLINE, OR CHANGE in 2004. Among his other plays are HOMEBODY/KABUL, SLAVS!, A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY, 'THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE...', SHORT TALKS ON THE UNIVERSE, THE ILLUSION and more. For the big screen, Kushner has written the screenplays for LINCOLN and MUNICH.