FKA Twigs to Play Josephine Baker in Movie Biopic

FKA Twigs will portray as Jazz Age icon Josephine Baker in a new movie biopic from “Cuties” filmmaker Maimouna Doucouré, which launches filming this fall.

The Grammy-winning artist was in negotiations to star as the trailblazing American-born French dancer, singer, actor and civil rights activist in the project, which is financed and co-produced by Studiocanal. With Twigs and Doucouré’s deals officially closed, Studiocanal will launch worldwide sales for the movie at Cannes.

“I am honoured to collaborate with the immensely talented Maïmouna Doucouré on this incredible project,” FKA Twigs said in a statement. “Josephine Baker’s extraordinary legacy is such an inspiration to me and to so many people around the world. She lives on in our hearts as a visionary, ground-breaking woman whose story is as powerful as it is relevant today. I cannot wait to embody Josephine Baker bringing her fight, her love, her losses, her talent and her heroism to the big screen.”

The yet-to-be-titled biopic intends to cover Baker’s remarkable life story: born in St. Louis in 1906, she rose to fame after moving to Paris in 1925. But Baker’s legacy resonates far beyond the stage.

During World War II, she joined the French Resistance, supporting the Allied nations in the fight against fascism; then, in the 1950s and 60s, Baker became a prominent voice in the American Civil Rights Movement.

The project is in development with the support of Baker’s sons, Jean-Claude Bouillon Baker and Brian Bouillon Baker, and the Rainbow tribe, which is what she dubbed her many adopted children.

In addition to writing and directing the movie, Doucouré will produce under her Bien Ou Bien Productions banner, alongside Studiocanal, and CPB Films.

“Josephine Baker has lived with me for years. Working on this film, I realise how modern, fearless and complex she was,” the filmmaker added. “Beyond the legend, I want to explore her contradictions, her wounds and her immense courage, as well as her relentless fight for dignity.”

Doucouré continued: “With the extraordinary FKA Twigs bringing her rare artistry, intelligence and emotional depth to the role, it is a huge honour to work with Studiocanal to bring Josephine’s story to the screen for a global audience: the story of a woman who never stopped reinventing herself and fighting for justice and equality.”

Studiocanal will release the movie theatrically in their territories of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand.