FKA Twigs is set to take on the role of legendary entertainer Josephine Baker in a new biopic that’s generating serious buzz ahead of the Cannes Film Festival. The project, backed by StudioCanal, will mark the first major film about Baker to receive full support from her family.
Who’s Behind the Camera
Director and screenwriter Maïmouna Doucouré, best known for her Sundance award-winning film Cuties, is helming the untitled project. StudioCanal is bankrolling the production and will handle international distribution, with filming expected to kick off in September 2026 in the Paris region.
Baker’s Remarkable Life
Josephine Baker, born in St. Louis in 1906, became a sensation as a dancer and entertainer in 1920s Paris, performing at the famous Folies Bergère and starring in the 1927 film Siren of the Tropics. She made history as the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture. Beyond the stage, Baker worked as a spy for the French Resistance during World War II and spent her life fighting racism. She also adopted 12 multiracial children, whom she called her “Rainbow Tribe.” In 2021, France honored her with a place in the Panthéon, making her the first Black woman to receive the distinction.
What Twigs Brings to the Role
The Grammy-nominated British artist and actress, who recently appeared in Bones and All, has the performance chops to capture Baker’s magnetic presence and groundbreaking legacy. The project has already earned the blessing of Baker’s sons, Jean-Claude and Brian Bouillon Baker, guaranteeing an authentic portrayal.
