Rachel Morrison, First Female Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer, Making Feature Directing Debut On Universal’s Barry Jenkins-Scripted ‘Flint Strong’
BREAKING: Rachel Morrison is in negotiations to direct Flint Strong, the Universal Pictures drama that is based on the 2015 boxing documentary T-Rex and shapes up as a female Rocky-esque drama. Morrison, who made history being the first Oscar-nominated female cinematographer on Mudbound, makes her film directorial debut here, after helming the Starz pilot Hightown. Oscar winner Barry Jenkins wrote the script.
Michael De Luca will produce alongside Jenkins and De Luca Productions’ Elishia Holmes. Zackary Canepari and Drea Cooper, who helmed the documentary, will be the executive producers.
Related stories
'Succession' Composer Nicholas Britell Channels "Darkess And Absurdity" Of Power-Hungry Elite
Barry Jenkins To Direct Alvin Ailey Movie For Fox Searchlight
Morrison’s pioneering conquests for her gender makes her a good match for the subject matter. T-Rex tells the story of 17-year-old Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a Flint Michigan native whose dreams of becoming the first American woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in Boxing are realized at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Shields won a second gold medal in Women’s Middleweight boxing.
T-Rex’s journey to success is filled with conflict and triumph, not only in her sports training in distressed Flint but also the aftermath of life after fulfilling her dream. Universal acquired the docu in 2016, with the aim is to make a popcorn sports movie with a female empowerment message in the vein of Rocky, leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London where Shields made history in the middleweight class.
Morrison, who served as director of photography on Black Panther, is repped by CAA and Circle of Confusion, while Jenkins (who won the Oscar for Moonlight) is repped by CAA, Silent R Management and Lichter Grossman.
Universal’s Senior Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers is overseeing the project for the studio.
Here is a glimpse of the fighter’s road as shown in the docu:
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
