Roxanne Shante Biopic Wins Big At Sundance; Acquired By Neon Films for $3 Million
The Roxanne Shante biopic Roxanne Roxanne was a big hit at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. According to IndieWire, after an intense bidding war between Amazon, Lionsgate and Miramax, Neon Films was successful in acquiring the North American rights for $3 million.
The film, which stars newcomer Chanté Adams as Roxanne Shante, tells the story of a Queens, N.Y. teenager who hustled in the streets to provide for her family, and worked her way to becoming a hip-hop legend in the 1980s. The movie was written and directed by Michael Larnell and produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell Williams. The cast includes Golden Globe-nominated actor Mahershala Ali, Nia Long, Elvis Nolasco, Kevin Phillips and Shenell Edmonds.
In addition, Roxanne Roxanne earned actress Chanté Adams Sundance’s Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance. Watch her interview with Deadline below.