Hot off her acting debuting in The Color Purple, superstar H.E.R. has lined up her next project with Disney’s 20th Century Studios.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, H.E.R. is set to develop, produce, and star in a majorettes-inspired dance movie. The project reteams the her with Oprah Winfrey and Scott Sanders, her producers on Color Purple.
Captivated by the significance of majorettes in Black culture, H.E.R. initiated discussions with Winfrey and Sanders about this project following their collaboration on Color Purple. Joining forces, Winfrey will produce under her Harpo Films banner, while Sanders will contribute as a producer through Scott Sanders Productions, alongside H.E.R.
Lauren Ashley Smith has been selected to write the screenplay for an upcoming dance film set within a fictional Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Atlanta. The narrative revolves around an introverted ballet dancer from Los Angeles who, despite parental opposition, decides to pause her successful dance career to attend college. Upon arrival, she joins the struggling majorette team of her HBCU, embarking on a journey to overcome cultural differences, her rigid dance background, and formidable adversaries in order to restore the team’s former glory.
The aim is to create a humorous and uplifting portrayal of authentic HBCU life, narrated from the perspective of a majorette who, through her initiation into HBCU culture, begins to discover her true self. Majorette traditions, blending elements of marching band, dance, and gymnastics, have evolved over the past five decades into a significant cultural phenomenon within both college and Black communities.
Alongside H.E.R., Winfrey, and Sanders, the film will be produced by Carla Gardini and Mara Jacobs.
