Tiffany Haddish has signed on to play the fastest woman in the world. She will star in a biopic of Florence Griffith Joyner, former Olympian who set world records in the 100m and 200m that still stand today.
Known as Flo-Jo, Joyner helped popularize track and field with both her record-breaking Olympic runs and flashy personality and style, originating the ‘one-legger’ look with her running suits. She abruptly retired just a year after setting those records, but remained a pop culture figure through endorsement deals, acting, and designing.
Unfortunately, her story has a tragic end as she died in her sleep in 1998 as a result of an epileptic seizure. Joyner was reportedly one of Haddish’s heroes when growing up, so this should be a pretty personal project for the actress.
Haddish will also produce the film, which will have Joyner’s coach and widower, Al Joyner, consulting. The film will be produced by game1, which recently worked on another sports film, Bruised, scheduled for release this year, which sees Halle Berry directing and starring as a fictional MMA fighter.
“I am looking forward to telling Flo-Jo’s story the way it should be told”, said Haddish in a statement. “My goal with this film is making sure that younger generations know my ‘she-ro’ Flo-Jo, the fastest woman in the world to this day, existed”.
Haddish is best known for her comedy work, most notably in Girls Trip, but she’s branched out over the last few years, starring in mafia drama The Kitchen and having a role in Paul Schrader‘s upcoming thriller The Card Counter. But this role has a chance to dramatically alter Haddish’s career, and it will be fascinating to see her play one of her heroes.
No director is currently on board, and we don’t know much else about the film. But expect more news to arrive in the coming months.
#Peace.Love.FlorenceGriffithJoyner
