The first official trailer for the new biopic Harriet dropped July 23; take a look above. Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) stars as Harriet Tubman, born into slavery and later freeing approximately 70 enslaved people through 13 separate missions. The Focus Features title hits movie theatre November 1.
Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton) also stars as William Still, a writer, historian, and abolitionist in Philadelphia and part of the Underground Railroad.
In the trailer—set to Erivo singing “Farewell Oh Farewell” from the movie—viewers witness the beginnings of Tubman’s incredible story as she escapes her slave owners and then decides to go back to rescue her kin.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou, Talk to Me), the film features a screenplay by Lemmons and Gregory Allen Howard (Ali, Remember the Titans). The cast also includes Joe Alwyn, Jennifer Nettles, and Clarke Peters.
Erivo first came to the U.S. to star as Celie in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, a performance that led her to a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Awards. Since then, she has appeared in Widows alongside Viola Davis and in Bad Times at the El Royale. The performer recently performed as part of Live From Lincoln Center’s Stars in Concert series.
