Jill Scott will play gospel icon Mahalia Jackson in a forthcoming biopic, according to Deadline. Based on the biography Mahalia Jackson by Darlene Donloe, Mahalia! will be produced by Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Shakim Compere, and Holly Carter.
Producers have secured the rights to Jackson’s entire musical catalog for the film, which will document her musical and activist life. “This is such an incredibly important story to tell and we’re thrilled to work with Jamie on the project,” Latifah said about the project. “Shakim and I are also looking forward to reteaming with our Clark Sisters producing partner, Holly Carter, to share Mahalia’s inspiring journey to becoming the Queen of Gospel music.”
Read Pitchfork’s Sunday Review of Jill Scott’s Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1.