The Outsider actress Cynthia Erivo is teaming up with her ‘sis’ Lena Waithe for a Universal musical drama with the working title, Talent Show.
The British-Nigerian 33-year-old – who’s an Oscar away from EGOT status – will play a ‘failed songwriter returning to her Chicago hometown to lead a group of at-risk youth in their talent show,’ according to THR.
The 36-year-old Emmy winner (Queen & Slim) is executive producing and she wrote the most recent version of the Talent Show script, which will be directed by Gandja Monteiro (The Chi).
Collaboration: The Outsider actress Cynthia Erivo (L) is teaming up with her ‘sis’ Lena Waithe (R) for a Universal musical drama with the working title, Talent Show (pictured in 2018)
‘I finally found my sis,’ Cynthia wrote after originally meeting Lena at the 2018 Met Gala.
‘Lena you are absolutely everything. You are perfection. What a meeting of minds, glad to have you in my life! Stuck like glue! Shine queen shine!’
But first, Erivo portrays Aretha Franklin in the fully-authorized eight-episode series Genius: Aretha, which premieres this fall on National Geographic.
‘She came to see The Color Purple on Broadway. Aretha stuck around to meet people afterward, so I got to meet her, and she was just funny,’ the Harriet star told Harper’s Bazaar this month.
Only an Oscar away from EGOT status! The British-Nigerian 33-year-old will play a ‘failed songwriter returning to her Chicago hometown to lead a group of at-risk youth in their talent show’ (pictured February 23)
Action! The 36-year-old Emmy winner is executive producing and she wrote the most recent version of the Talent Show script, which will be directed by Gandja Monteiro (pictured)
After meeting Lena at the 2018 Met Gala, Cynthia wrote: ‘I finally found my sis. Lena you are absolutely everything. You are perfection. What a meeting of minds, glad to have you in my life! Stuck like glue! Shine queen shine!’
‘She sang the last line of [my character’s song] “I’m Here” at me. I was like, “What is happening? This is crazy.” It was nuts. I thought, “Okay, that’s it. I’m never going to see her again.” But then I performed at the Kennedy Center Honors later that year, and she was there. We ended up at a reception at the White House, talking at a buffet table where you could pick up little hors d’oeuvres with your fingers to eat.’
Cynthia recalled: ‘I think she was with Clive Davis, and I remember she was wearing red. I went to reintroduce myself, and she was like, “You’re the girl in The Color Purple. You can really sing.” And then when I sang at the event, I didn’t realize it, but the camera caught her, and she was singing along in the audience. To be able to portray her is like a dream come true.’
The 18-time Grammy winner died, age 76, at her Detroit home on August 16, 2018 from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
Premieres this fall on National Geographic! But first, Erivo portrays Aretha Franklin in the fully-authorized eight-episode series Genius: Aretha
The Harriet star told Harper’s Bazaar this month: ‘She came to see The Color Purple on Broadway…To be able to portray her is like a dream come true’ (pictured in 2015)
Erivo’s project should not be confused with Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence’s MGM Aretha biopic, Respect, hitting US theaters in December.
The RADA grad has literally built her entire career on playing African-Americans, and she told THR in January that she’s interested in getting US Citizenship.
Cynthia will next headline the BBC’s first online Creative Diversity Xperience streaming July 28-29 during which she’ll take part in a Q&A with BBC Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo.
Hitting US theaters in December! Erivo’s project should not be confused with Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence’s MGM Aretha biopic, Respect
Next gig: The RADA grad next headlines the BBC’s first Creative Diversity Xperience streaming July 28-29 during which she’ll take part in a Q&A with BBC Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo