StudioCanal preps Josephine Baker drama

Producer and distributor StudioCanal has teamed up with fellow French outfits CPB Films and Leyland Films to develop an English-language drama series about entertainer and Civil Rights activist Josephine Baker.

Anna Marsh

The American-born French performer was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture when she appeared in 1927 silent movie Siren of the Tropics.

She was also known for aiding the French Resistance in the Second World War and for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the US. Her son, Jean-Claude Bouillon Baker, is on board the project as a consulting partner.

StudioCanal said negotiations with “leading firms” are underway to attach additional international partners to the project.

“Josephine Baker was a ground-breaking pioneer of her time and her multi-faceted, brilliant life story will have strong appeal to audiences both young and old around the world. We are confident that personal insights from family members, combined with exceptional producers and StudioCanal’s expertise in exporting high-end content will mean this series is destined for global success,” said StudioCanal’s CEO Anna Marsh.