FKA Twigs Set to Star as Josephine Baker in Maïmouna Doucouré’s Upcoming Biopic as Studiocanal Kicks Off Sales at Cannes Market
Singer-songwriter, actress, and model FKA twigs has been officially cast as renowned Jazz Age icon and civil rights activist Josephine Baker in the upcoming biopic directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, scheduled to begin filming this fall.
“Josephine Baker’s extraordinary legacy is such an inspiration to me and to so many people around the world,” FKA twigs remarked. The Grammy-winning artist is known for her roles in films such as Honey Boy, The Crow, and most recently, David Lowery’s A24 film Mother Mary.
“She lives on in our hearts as a visionary, groundbreaking 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,” she added.
The biopic is being produced by Studiocanal and Bien ou Bien Productions, with support from Baker’s sons Jean-Claude Bouillon Baker and Brian Bouillon Baker, as well as the Rainbow tribe representing her twelve adopted children.
Watch on Deadline
This project, announced four years ago, marks Doucouré’s most ambitious feature to date, following the Netflix-acquired films Cuties and Hawa.
“Josephine Baker has lived with me for years. Working on this film, I realize how modern, fearless, and complex she was,” Doucouré said. “Beyond the legend, I want to explore her contradictions, her wounds, and her immense courage, as well as her relentless fight for dignity.”
“With the extraordinary FKA twigs bringing her rare artistry, intelligence, and emotional depth to the role, it is a huge honor 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,” she continued.
The confirmation of the casting and the upcoming fall shoot coincides with pan-European studio Studiocanal launching worldwide sales for the film at the Cannes Film Festival, covering territories outside of the UK, including France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand, where its subsidiaries will manage the release.
