Rachel Morrison, the director of photography for Black Panther, became the first woman to be nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar for her work. Having also shot films such as Dope, Fruitvale Station, and Mudbound, she’s now deservedly set to make her directorial debut at Universal.
Morrison will direct Flint Strong, a drama based on the 2015 boxing documentary T-REX which follows 17-year-old Flint, a Michigan native who became the first woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 2012 London Olympics. The film boasts a script penned by Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk director Barry Jenkins.
Jenkins initially wrote the screenplay with an eye to direct, but stepped back into a producer’s role as he’s gearing up to helm the Amazon series, The Underground Railroad. Universal then brought on Morrison on board.
Although this is her feature debut, Morrison has directed before. She previously helmed episodes of TV shows such as Quantico, American Crime, and the pilot for Hightown. As a DP, Morrison recently wrapped shooting on the civil rights drama Against All Enemies.
Making your directorial debut with a script penned by Barry Jenkins is a dream come true for most, so Morrison is likely ecstatic. It will be interesting to see if she serves as her own DP too. The first challenge though, is to find a teenage actor who can competently lead a boxing movie.
#Peace.Love.FlintStrong
