British music star FKA twigs is set to portray legendary entertainer and activist Josephine Baker in a new feature-length biopic chronicling the groundbreaking performer’s extraordinary life and legacy.
The upcoming film will be directed by acclaimed French filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, best known for her controversial 2020 Netflix drama Cuties. The project was officially unveiled during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled to begin filming this fall.
The as-yet-untitled movie will explore Baker’s remarkable rise from humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, to becoming one of the defining stars of the Jazz Age after moving to Paris in 1925. Known for her electrifying dance performances, bold fashion, and magnetic stage presence, Baker became one of the first Black women to star in a major motion picture with her role in Siren of the Tropics.
Beyond entertainment, Baker became a celebrated hero during World War II, serving in the French Resistance by reportedly smuggling coded messages hidden in sheet music and song lyrics. Her bravery earned her France’s prestigious Chevalier of the Legion of Honour from Charles de Gaulle. She later became a prominent voice in the American civil rights movement, standing alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington.
In 2021, France honored Baker by inducting her into the Panthéon, making her the first Black woman ever to receive the distinction.
For FKA twigs, the film marks her first leading role as an actress after building an increasingly impressive screen résumé. The Grammy-winning artist previously appeared in Honey Boy, The Crow, Mother Mary, and The Carpenter’s Son.
In a statement reported by Variety, Twigs said she was “honored” to collaborate with Doucouré and described Baker as a “visionary, groundbreaking woman whose story is as powerful as it is relevant today.”
The production has received the blessing of Baker’s estate and support from two of her adopted sons, Jean-Claude Bouillon Baker and Brian Bouillon Baker, along with members of Baker’s famous “Rainbow Tribe” — the diverse family of 12 adopted children she raised from countries around the world.
Baker’s life has inspired several screen adaptations over the years, most notably The Josephine Baker Story starring Lynn Whitfield, which earned widespread acclaim and Emmy recognition.
The new biopic is expected to shine renewed light on Baker’s enduring legacy as an entertainer, war hero, activist, and cultural trailblazer whose influence continues to inspire generations worldwide.
