Viola Davis stars in ‘The Woman King’ at Toronto Film Festival

Viola Davis attends the world premiere of “The Girl King” on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 9, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

TORONTO, Sept 9 (Reuters) – ​Viola Davis says she “at all times knew” she was the highly effective girl warrior on the middle of the brand new movie “The Girl King,” which premiered on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition on Friday.

The movie chronicles the true story of the Agojie, a bunch of feminine warriors who within the 1800s protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey from colonization and the slave commerce.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood mentioned when she first heard of the Agojie she noticed herself in them, however mentioned, “I believe it is one thing we do not get to see … definitely not on movie.

“I felt like if I may make this film, put these warriors up onscreen, that would encourage ladies to really feel like they are often fighters and warriors, as properly.”

As quickly as she learn the story, Prince-Bythewood mentioned, she began to see the movie in her thoughts. However it was not straightforward to get approval.

“Black Panther,” the 2018 superhero movie set in a fictional African nation and that includes an elite group of girls warriors, “definitely opened the door. Its success allowed us to get the inexperienced mild and I hope the success of this movie does the identical for another person,” she mentioned.

Nicole Brown, president of Tristar Photos, a part of Sony Photos Leisure (6758.T) and which acquired the rights to the movie, mentioned she “by no means doubted we may promote this film.”

Whereas the movie’s originality made it compelling, it hit operational challenges, mentioned Sony Photos Leisure Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman: They have been taking pictures in South Africa when the coronavirus Omicron variant broke out.

​Each Prince-Bythewood and Davis mentioned the movie and its message are particularly necessary now.

“These days and this tradition the place ladies are beneath assault, when our selections, ou​r our bodies, every part that we’re, we’re thought of secondary residents, I’d love for girls to faucet into that warrior spirit,” Davis mentioned.

Davis, who has gained an Oscar, an Emmy and two Tonys, described the function she took on for this movie as a type of coming-out get together or a debutante ball.

“I at all times knew I used to be Nanisca.”

The movie opens in theaters on Sept. 16.

Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny; Modifying by Leslie Adler

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