Deadline reports that the upcoming biopic based on the life of acclaimed feminist, journalist and political activist Gloria Steinem has added Grammy-nominated actress Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures) to its cast.
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The film, entitled The Glorias: A Life on the Road and directed by celebrated Broadway director Julie Taymor, will follow the former New York magazine columnist at various points in her life as she becomes one of the country’s most celebrated crusaders for equal rights and awareness for key topics including same-sex and transgender rights, pornography and, most of all, feminism. Various time periods of Steinem’s life will also see multiple actresses portray her, including Julianne Moore (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) and Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider).
Based on Steinem’s memoir, the film will be produced by Alex Saks (Book Club) for Fifty-Four Pictures alongside Taymor and Lynn Hendee (Ender’s Game), while Steinem and Amy Richards are set to executive produce the project, which is slated to begin shooting in January in Savannah, Georgia.
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Monáe has broken out in the acting scene in just her two years of working in it, having starred in the 2016 acclaimed dramas Hidden Figures and Moonlight, and is set to star in the upcoming drama Welcome to Marwen alongside Steve Carell and directed by Robert Zemeckis (Flight), as well as the upcoming animated adaptation of the toy franchise UglyDolls and the live-action adaptation of the Lady and the Tramp for Disney+.
