Liesl Tommy is set to direct the film adaptation of Trevor Noah's autobiography, Born a Crime, starring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o.
The director, who recently helmed the world premiere of JC Lee's play Relevance at MCC, reunites with Nyong'o after the 2016 acclaimed Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Eclipsed, which earned Tommy and Nyong'o Tony nominations.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood recounts the life of South African comedian, writer, producer, and television host Noah. The project will mark a feature film debut for Tommy, who is from Cape Town.
Tommy is a director of the stage and screen. She helmed the recent Off-Broadway productions of Party People at the Public Theater, Greg Pierce and John Kander's musical Kid Victory, and Deborah Zoe Laufer's play Informed Consent, among others. On screen, she directed Oprah Winfrey and Ava Duvernay’s OWN TV series Queen Sugar.
Read: THE PUBLIC THEATER’S LATEST REVOLUTIONARY PROJECT FROM LIESL TOMMY
Both Tommy and Nyong'o shared the news via Twitter:
Thrilled to share that @LieslTommy is directing the film adaptation of @TrevorNoah's #BornACrime! She's a powerhouse whom I have known & admired for years & directed my broadway debut, Eclipsed. I can't wait & am proud to have a South African woman at the helm of this story. pic.twitter.com/zKluX1u0nU
— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) March 26, 2018
