FKA Twigs Lands Jazz Legend Biopic

Just when you thought FKA Twigs was mainly in the music game—or popping up in supporting roles—she's stepping out front and center in a big way. The always-hyper-artistic singer is about to play Josephine Baker, one of the most fascinating and legendary jazz icons of the last century, in a brand new biopic. Yeah, you read that right: FKA Twigs is set to lead a film channeling the energy of a woman who shook up early Hollywood, Paris nightlife, and even WWII espionage. That’s a lot of ground to cover for her first lead movie role.

From 'Mother Mary' to a Jazz Legend

So far, Twigs has made her mark in supporting turns—think Mother Mary, The Crow, and The Carpenter's Son. This time, she’s not in the wings. She is Josephine Baker, meaning she’s got the challenge of capturing the spirit of a woman who broke barriers as a Black performer in 1920s Europe and was famous as much for her activism as for her show-stopping stage presence.

Who's Behind the Camera?

Directing duties go to Maïmouna Doucouré. If that name rings a bell, it might be from her buzzy—some would argue notorious—feature debut, Mignonnes (or Cuties), a coming-of-age movie that stirred up so much conversation online you'd think it invented controversy. In addition to that Netflix lightning rod, Doucouré has Hawa and the short film Maman(s) in her back pocket. Now she’s writing and directing the Baker biopic, so expect a complicated, layered approach.

The Nuts and Bolts (Aka, Production Details)

• Production Start: Filming kicks off this fall.
• Who’s Making It: StudioCanal is behind it, along with Bien ou Bien Productions (the same studio that helped put together Cuties and Hawa).
• Release Plans: StudioCanal’s aiming for a wide theatrical release in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Sales & Buzz: Word is, StudioCanal will be pitching this at Cannes to get international buyers on board. So, chances are you'll be hearing a lot about it before it even hits the screen.
• Baker’s Family: Josephine Baker's sons, Jean-Claude Bouillon and Brian Bouillon, plus the 'Rainbow Tribe' (her very real and famous extended family of adopted kids), are backing the film and involved with its development. That’s a solid sign for authenticity—or at least, family approval.

Who Was Josephine Baker—And Why Does She Matter?

Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Baker basically invented the 'international superstar' before Hollywood even knew what to do with that term. She hit Paris in 1925, dazzling as a dancer, singer, and actress with an energy that just wouldn’t quit. If you want history, here’s one for the record: in 1927, she was the first Black woman to land a lead in a major feature film (Siren of the Tropics). Yes, almost a hundred years ago—let that sink in.

But just stage and screen weren’t enough. During WWII, Baker used her fame to help the French Resistance, smuggling intelligence for the Allies. And after the war, she racked up more French honors and medals than your average general. Here’s a speed round:

- The Resistance Medal from the French Committee of National Liberation
- The Croix de Guerre for military valor
- Named Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour by Charles de Gaulle
- Inducted into the Panthéon in Paris in 2021 (one of the only women, and the first Black woman, to ever get that honor)

She didn’t stop at French history—Baker marched with Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington, becoming a major presence in the American civil rights movement as well. Safe to say, she lived five lifetimes in one.

The Takeaway

This is one of those projects that could be quietly ambitious or total awards bait, depending who you ask. Either way, it’s wild that we haven’t seen more feature films about Josephine Baker already. Expect this one to draw attention for FKA Twigs’s performance alone, not to mention the inevitable debates when Doucouré’s involved.