Regina King Stars As Shirley Chisholm In Netflix’s ‘SHIRLEY’ Trailer

Marc Griffin
·2 min read
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Regina King will tell Shirley Anita Chisholm’s iconic story in Netflix’s SHIRLEY. 

Netflix released a new teaser trailer for the movie on Tuesday (Jan. 9). The 20-second visual offers a first look at King as the first Black woman elected to Congress.

The trailer covers the historic moment when Chisholm announced her presidential candidacy on Jan. 25, 1972. An all-Black audience can be seen cheering for the Brooklynite as she makes her way to the stage to speak. “I am the candidate of the American people,” she can be heard saying. The line was taken from the politician’s final line in her riveting speech. The speech in full celebrates Chisholm‘s multiple identities while swearing off the lies of mainstream “big wig politicians.”

“I am not the candidate of black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and I’m equally proud of that,” she said in the historic speech. “I am not the candidate of any political policies or fat cats or special interests. I stand here now, without endorsements from any big name politicians or celebrities or any other kind of prop. I do not intend to offer you the tired cliches that have too long been accepted part of our political life. I am the candidate of the people of America.”

While the trailer offers a glimpse into the story, Netflix’s official logline detailed a bit more about the upcoming movie. “SHIRLEY tells the story of the first black Congresswoman and political icon, Shirley Chisholm, and her trailblazing run for president of the U.S,” an official press release reads. “It chronicles her audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.”

John Ridley is signed on to direct and write the film. Ridley, along with, King, Reina King, Anikah McLaren, and Elizabeth Haggard are set to produce SHIRLEY. Jeff Skoll and Ted Gidlow are attached to the movie as executive producers.

SHIRLEY stars the late Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, Reina King with André Holland, Terrence Howard, and, of course, Regina King.

The movie is set to release on Netflix on March 22, 2024.

Check out stills from the movie below.

SHIRLEY. (L to R) Regina King as Shirley Chisholm and Terrence Howard as Arthur Hardwick Jr. in Shirley.
SHIRLEY. (L to R) Regina King as Shirley Chisholm and Terrence Howard as Arthur Hardwick Jr. in Shirley.
SHIRLEY. (L to R) Christina Jackson as Barbara Lee, Michael Cherrie as Conrad Chisholm, Regina King as Shirley Chisholm, Lance Reddick as Wesley McDonald “Mac” Holder and Lucas Hedges as Robert Gottlieb in Shirley.
SHIRLEY. (L to R) Christina Jackson as Barbara Lee, Michael Cherrie as Conrad Chisholm, Regina King as Shirley Chisholm, Lance Reddick as Wesley McDonald “Mac” Holder and Lucas Hedges as Robert Gottlieb in Shirley.
SHIRLEY. Regina King as Shirley Chisholm in Shirley.
SHIRLEY. Regina King as Shirley Chisholm in Shirley.

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