The Woman King is an upcoming historical drama film that tells the story of a highly skilled all-female military unit called the Agojie, who fought to protect the Kingdom of Dahomey (located in present-day Benin) in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Agojie were renowned for their fearsome fighting skills and were considered among the finest warriors in the world. The Woman King follows the story of General Nanisca (played by Viola Davis), the leader of the Agojie as she trains the next generation of recruits and prepares them for battle against an enemy that is determined to destroy their way of life. Nanisca is a fierce and dedicated warrior who will do whatever it takes to protect her people and maintain their independence.
The film is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball, The Old Guard) and co-written by Dana Stevens and Kinglsey Ben-Adir. In addition to Viola Davis, the cast includes Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die, Captain Marvel) as Nanisca's daughter and fellow warrior, and Adwoa Aboah (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) in a supporting role. The Woman King is produced by Cathy Schulman, who won an Oscar for producing Crash, and will be distributed by TriStar Pictures. No release date has been set yet, but the film is expected to be released in 2022.