Anthony Mackie Making Directorial Debut With Civil Rights Drama SPARK Starring KING RICHARD Actress Saniyya Sidney

MCU actor Anthony Mackie is stepping into the director’s chair and taking on his first film with the civil rights drama Spark. Saniyya Sidney will star in the role of Claudette Colvin, an unsung pioneer of the Civil Rights era. Sidney is coming off a breakout performance as Venus Williams in King Richard. Mackie is producing with Kellon Akeem, Jason Michael Berman, and Marc Ambrose.

“Colvin was 15-years-old when she bravely stood up to racism, getting arrested after refusing to give up her seat on a crowded segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This was nine months before Rosa Parks became a symbol of the Civil Rights era symbol for courageously doing essentially the same thing. Initially embraced by Civil Rights leaders for her courage, Colvin was brushed out of history when those same civic leaders decided a poor, dark-skinned teenage girl would not be the ideal face for their public campaign.”

Niceole R. Levy, who worked with Mackie on The Banker, is writing the film. The filmmakers have the life rights of Colvin and are working with her family. They’ve also secured rights to Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose.

Colvin herself talked about her life, and the project, saying:

“67 years ago, when history glued me to the seat of that bus in Montgomery, I could never have imagined that standing up for my rights could spark a movement that would change the course of history. It is really an honor to have my story retold, by Mr. Mackie, for future generations to learn about our past so they can move forward knowing that progress is possible, and things do get better. I hope my story will inspire youth to continue to fight for civil rights and human dignity.”

Mackie said that he came across the story of Claudette Colvin during a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

Mackie told Deadline:

“Not only was I moved, I was inspired. It’s great to be a superhero in movies but she’s a real live one living amongst us and I’m honored to tell her story.”

This is an interesting and important story, and I think Mackie and Sidney will do a good job bringing it to the screen.