Fans will see a new face when Disney’s Queen of Katwe makes its debut later this year. Up-and-coming star Madina Nalwanga will portray the star of the highly anticipated film.
Queen of Katwe tells the true story of a young girl named Phiona Mutesi from Uganda who practices and trains to become a chess champion. The film features award-winning actress Lupita Nyong as the youngster’s mother and Madina as Phiona. “It was so great to go back home,” Lupita said of taping. I’m from East Africa. I’m from Kenya, which is just next door to Uganda.”
The star further explained that the story is one of “commitment to a dream even in the most discouraging of situations. The slum of Katwe is a very difficult place to live, but you see these people living there with dignity and making it day by day. And so to go there and to have that environment to work from really did sober us and enliven us.”
Queen of Katwe will premiere in coming months. Be on the lookout for Madina Nalwanga in her star role!
Photos: Disney
