Taraji P. Henson To Play Mathematician Katherine Johnson in “Hidden Figures”Posted by Wilson Morales
February 11, 2016
Source: Variety
With the attention and accolades that Taraji P. Henson has received from playing vixen Cookie Lyon on the Fox’s “Empire,” she has not giving up on doing films. Variety is reporting that Henson has signed on to play mathematics genius Katherine Johnson in “Hidden Figures” for Fox 2000.
Based on Margot Lee Shetterly book “Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race,” the film will focus on centers on Johnson, a brilliant African-American mathematician who, along with her colleagues Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson, served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history — the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and his safe return. The three women crossed all gender, race and professional lines while embarking on the mission.
Glenn was on the Friendship 7 mission in 1962 and became the first American to orbit the Earth.
Ted Melfi will direct the film as well as a producer along with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping through Chernin Entertainment; and Donna Gigliotti of Levantine Films.
Henson recently won the NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a TV drama series for her work in Fox’s “Empire.”
This could be a role that reignites her film career. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). In playing historical figures, Henson played former Tennessee State Tigers golf coach Catana Starks in 2011’s From The Rough. She also starred as the title character in Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story for Lifetime Movie Network.
“Hidden Figures” is set to hit theaters on January 13, 2017.
