Nia DaCosta to Direct Film Adaptation of The Water Dancer for MGM

April 19, 2022

According to Deadline, Candyman director Nia DaCosta has signed on to helm MGM’s upcoming film adaptation of The Water Dancer, based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’s bestselling 2019 debut novel of the same name. The project hails from producers Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt.

DaCosta first gained recognition through her acclaimed feature-length directorial debut Little Woods, which starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James. Last year, she directed her first major project in the form of the Candyman remake, which was co-written and produced by Jordan Peele. Her other upcoming project will be her biggest one to date, as she is currently directing Marvel Studios’ upcoming MCU film The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani.

Set in the pre-Civil War South, The Water Dancer centers around Hiram Walker. Hiram was born into slavery and has an amazing photographic memory – despite having no memory of the mother who abandoned him when he was young. After almost drowning from a carriage accident, he discovers his superhuman ability which was suddenly triggered by his powerful memories of his mother. As he struggles to gain an understanding of this power, he becomes involved with the Underground Railroad and meets several historical figures.

The film adaptation was also penned by Coates. Published in 2019, the novel became an instant hit and was featured on The New York Times fiction best-seller list. It was also featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Apple TV+’s Oprah’s Book Club where the billionaire talk show host described it as one of the best books she has ever read in her entire life.

The Water Dancer will also be produced by Kamilah Forbes, who worked with Coates on the theatrical event of Between the World and Me. Winfrey and Pitt are set to produce through their Harpo Films and Plan B banners, respectively. This marks the second collaboration between Harpo and Plan B, who have first worked on 2014’s Selma.