Janelle Monáe Joins Cast of Harriet Tubman Biopic

Janelle Monae comes off the release of her third studio album, Dirty Computer with a once-in-a-lifetime role. Following up her powerful performances in Hidden Figures and Moonlight, she's been cast in Harriet, a biopic about Harriet Tubman.

The film tells the story of the abolitionist from her escape from slavery to her incredible journey as a freedom fighter during pre-Civil War adversity. It follows her missions to liberate slaves through the Underground Railroad. Monae joins Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winner, Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Tubman.

Filming on Harriet begins this month in Virginia. It also stars Leslie Odom Jr, Joe Alwyn, Jennifer Nettles, Clarke Peters, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Zackary Momoh, Deborah Ayorinde, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Kasi Lemmons will direct a screenplay she co-wrote with Gregory Allen Howard.