Today it was announced that entertainer Tiffany Haddish who recently starred in the film Here Today, will play Florence Griffith Joyner in an upcoming biopic.
According to Variety, Haddish will produce the film, as well.
Game1 Co-CEO’s Basil Iwanyk and Greg Economou will also serve as producers on this film. In addition, Flo-Jo’s widower and former coach, Al Joyner, will serve as a producer and creative consultant on the project. Additionally, he has already begun training Haddish to play the role, using methods that his late wife deployed during her career. Melanie Clark of She Ready Productions will also serve as a producer, while Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road Pictures will serve as an executive producer.
“We are thrilled to partner with Tiffany on such an important project,” said Iwanyk. “Tiffany has established herself as one of the greatest entertainers in the world today – helping her tell the story of her idol Flo-Jo is an amazing honor and privilege.”
Therese Andrews, EVP of Production at game1, is spearheading the entire project.
“I am looking forward to telling Flo-Jo’s story the way it should be told,” said Haddish. “My goal with this film is making sure that younger generations know my ‘she-ro’ Flo-Jo, the fastest woman in the world to this day, existed.”
“I am so elated to team up with game1 and Tiffany Haddish on this project,” said Joyner. “Working with Tiffany has been a great pleasure – she is incredibly dedicated, focused, and committed to portraying the spirit of Florence accurately, whose legacy of making a difference in the world will live on for generations to come. I hope that this film touches all who see it and inspires people to BE the change the world so desperately needs right now!”
Haddish is slated to appear in The Card Counter alongside Oscar Isaac and Tye Sheridan.