Viola Davis to team up with Steve McQueen for 'Widows'

Image from Variety

By Darian Scalamoni

            It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Steve McQueen. Not the late actor, but the director who directed such movies as Shame, Hunger and Best Picture winner, 12 Years a Slave. After his successful award winning film, the director turned to television for his follow-up which was a limited series about race titled, Codes of Conduct that was shelved by HBO which has now led to some news about what McQueen has moved on to. Even more excitedly, there is already a name attached to the cast. According to Variety, McQueen is set to direct Viola Davis in his next feature, Widows.

            This is incredibly exciting news as McQueen has become one of the most important and brilliant filmmakers in recent memory. This will also be his first collaboration with Davis who has drawn Oscar nominations for Doubt and The Help in the past, and could get another nomination for Fences. It’s evident that Davis is one of the best actresses on the planet and that’s why her role within this film is perfect. Widows is based on a 2002 British miniseries of the same name in which four armed robbers are killed in a failed heist attempt, only to have their widows step up to finish the job. The film will be co-written by McQueen and Gone Girl author/screenwriter, Gillian Flynn.

            Early word has McQueen trying to put together a strong ensemble for the film. He reached out to Jennifer Lawrence who had to turn down the project due to schedule conflicts but many actresses have to be excited to potentially work with two spectacular talents like Davis and McQueen.