What took so long to make a movie about Harriet Tubman?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

It seems strange that the new movie “Harriet,” opening Friday, is the first and only major film about Harriet Tubman.

By now, multiple generations have read about the Underground Railroad engineer in school. Tubman, played in the movie by Cynthia Ervio, is part of black history’s official pantheon, her name as recognizable as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Malcolm X. So what gives?

Kasi Lemmons, who directed the new movie, has a pretty straightforward explanation.

“First of all, I think it’s a miracle any movie gets made,” she says.

But it’s more than that.

“It’s only recently the industry found it viable to make a film with a black female protagonist.”

-more-

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies/article/What-took-so-long-to-make-a-movie-about-Harriet-14569093.php

[wasupaloopa]

1. In 2019 the movie can sell enough tickets to cover the costs and possibly make a profit.

It's the audience

I think the movie about Billie Holiday was one of the first.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Sings_the_Blues_(film)

Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 American biographical drama film directed by Sidney J. Furie about jazz singer Billie Holiday, loosely based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of Holiday's most popular songs. It was produced by Motown Productions for Paramount Pictures. Diana Ross portrayed Holiday, alongside a cast including Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, and Scatman Crothers.[3]
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[Cracklin Charlie]

2. That movie looks good!

The bits I’ve seen look very powerful. Much like Tubman, herself.

[Delmette2.0]

4. I saw the movie over the weekend.

It is so worth watching. And it is long over due.

[milestogo]

3. What's taking so long to elect a woman president?

[Dan]

5. Actually back in the early

Sixties,, Disney had a mini-series (TV) about H. Tubman.

[Niagara]

8. This one?

The Great Adventure-Go Down Moses

55 years is a long time to tell new generations about Harriet Tubman's bravery in movie form. When the TV show Underground was on, Harriet (played by Aisha Hinds) was introduced in season 2. Sadly, this Hulu show got canceled.

[Dan]

9. Sorry, I was just a kid,

I just remembered it being on Disney...

[Upthevibe]

6. I saw it this weekend and it was excellent...

I highly recommend it....

[jberryhill]

7. Sister Act, The Color Purple, Precious, The Wiz, Foxy Brown... were not movies, I guess

That’s just off the top of my head.