SHIRLEY tells the story of the first Black congresswoman and political icon, Shirley Chisholm, and her trailblazing run for president of the U.S. It chronicles her audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.
Regina King is running. This March, the Oscar® winner will star as political trailblazer Shirley Chisholm in a new film chronicling her groundbreaking run for president of the United States. In 1972, Chisholm became the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for president. But she was already a pioneer: In 1968, the Brooklyn native made history as the first Black woman elected to the US Congress. Written and directed by John Ridley (also an Oscar® winner for his 12 Years a Slave screenplay), Shirley tells Chisholm’s inspirational story.
In the trailer for Shirley you can see King’s transformation into Chisholm, as well as a taste of her fiery spirit. “You sound just like every other politician,” a voter tells Chisholm. “Do I look like every other politician?” she responds.
Alongside Regina King as Chisholm, Shirley stars Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, and Reina King, with André Holland and Terrence Howard.