The woman king has been making waves since its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month and, more recently, its theatrical release, lead the cash register with a debut weekend of $19 million. In the historical epic, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca, the leader of the Agojie, an all-women team of warriors tasked with protecting the West African kingdom of Dahomey in the early 1800s.
One of the greatest triumphs of The woman king, in addition to the story and action scenes, is the ensemble cast, which features some of the most talented actors working today. From Viola Davis to John Boyega, here’s a look at the cast of The woman king and other roles you may have seen them play.
Viola Davis
Nominated three times for an Academy Award and Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress, Viola Davis has done it all. She’s been in superhero movies, played heroes, villains, gone to space. She played doctor, gave up a habit, played a detective, and even figured out how to get away with murder. Here are some of the titles you might recognize her from. Her award-winning projects are the 2016 Oscar winner fences and the 2011 Oscar winner The help. She also starred in widows, and plays the furious leader of the DC Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller, starring Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squadand peacekeeper TV series. One of her classic roles is of course Annalize Keating in the hit television series How to get away with murder?. And in her previous breakthrough film roles, she co-starred with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams in the doubt. Now in 2022, she stars in her most intense action role as Nanisca, the leader of the Agojie Warriors.
So Mbedu
So Mbedu plays Nawi in The woman king, one of the newest and fiercest Agojie interns. This film basically marks Mbedu’s feature film debut, having previously starred in only a handful of TV series. That said, with her performance in The woman king — that, per gold derby, is already collecting Oscar buzz – the future certainly looks bright for the South African actress. Her most notable role prior to the film is Cora Randall, the lead in Barry Jenkins’ Amazon series The Underground Railroad.
John Boyega
british actor John Boyega famously portrayed one of the first Storm Troopers who could actually target in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. In between those films, he starred in the 2017 period drama Detroitand also portrayed the son of Idris Elba in the sequel Kaiju epic Pacific Rim: Rebellion. Before his journey to space, Boyega also starred in the 2011 alien invasion film Attack the block. Separate fromthe queen of women, Boyega has another movie coming out in 2022 called They cloned Tyrone. The woman king sees Boyega play King Ghezo, who, with the help of the Agojie, tries to move Dahomey, is the right direction for his people.
Lashana Lynch
Action star Lashana Lynch has been acting since 2007. She has appeared in multiple TV shows such as: Still star crossed and criminals, but her claim to fame came from her portrayal of Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel. She played the best friend and wing wife of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and also played Captain Marvel herself in the Multiverse chaos in Doctor Strange in the multiverse of madness. While being inducted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Lynch Nomi co-starred with Daniel Craig’s James Bond in No time to die, becoming the first woman ever to hold the 007 title. Lynch plays the beloved Miss Honey in the musical adaptation of Mathilde, and is linked to two other projects in production. In The woman kingshe plays Izogie, one of Nanisca’s strongest warriors, who also becomes a mentor to Nawi.
Shelia Atim
Shelia Atim has not only caused a furore on the silver screen, but has also conquered a place in the theater. Starring in the 2020 National Theater Live recording of Les Blancs, Atim knows how to be big. In the same year, she co-starred with Halle Berry in the MMA story bruised. In 2021, she played Mable in the TV miniseries the underground railway, and was featured on Comedy Central’s Drunken history. This year Atim was also in Doctor Strange and tthe multiverse of madness as Sara, one of the protectors of the Kamar-Taj. This year alone, Atim continues in the live-action version of Pinocchio. In The woman kingshe plays Amenza, Nanisca’s confidante and right-hand man.