Disney
has released the first trailer for Queen of Katwe, an upcoming biopic directed
by Mira Nair ("Monsoon Wedding") and starring Academy Award winning Lupita
Nyong'o about a young girl from rural Uganda called Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga)
who with the support of her family and community trains to become a world chess
champion.
Also
starring David Oyelowo ("Selma") and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine ("Treme",
"Blood Diamond"), Disney's Queen of Katwe will open in U.S. theaters
on September 23.
Queen of Katwe is the
colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda
whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and,
as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled
with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming
an international chess champion. Directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) from a
screenplay by William Wheeler (The Hoax) based on the book by Tim Crothers,
Queen of Katwe is produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher (The Darjeeling Limited) and
John Carls (Where the Wild Things Are) with Will Weiske and Troy Buder serving
as executive producers. The film stars Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo
(Selma), Oscar® winner and Tony Award® nominee Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a
Slave) and newcomer Madina Nalwanga.
For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the
impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her
mother, Harriet (Nyong'o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family
and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children
are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende
(Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess,
she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic
thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and
Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the
intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential.
Recognizing Phiona's natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she's
inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is
reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter
disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende
teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly
advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to
focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance
to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary
potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.
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