Liesl Tommy To Direct Film Adaptation of Trevor Noah's 'Born A Crime' Starring Lupita Nyong'o

South African Tony-nominated director and actress Liesl Tommy, will direct the film adaptation of Trevor Noah's comedic autobiography, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.

Tommy has left her artistic stamp throughout the country, revitalizing plays that ran at theaters like Center Stage, Sundance East Africa, and Broadway to name a few. Now she'll bring to life the humorous yet poignant autobiography of Noah's childhood, which consisted of great hardships of which he has prevailed. The film will star Lupita Nyong'o will will portray Noah's mother, Patricia Noah.

We could think of no one better to direct this story.

In light of Noah's expanded partnership with Viacom in launching his new international distribution and production company, Day Zero Productions, Born a Crime will be Paramount Players' and Day Zero's first project, with the help of executive producer, Lupita Nyong'o through her company, Eba Productions.

Through her work, Liesl has proven to be an expert in manifesting the forceful nature of violence on stage through physical and mental manifestations. She has the ability to move audiences to the edge of their seats and to the deepest parts of their minds with the thought provoking content she produces. Her work has led her to become the first woman of color to be nominated for a Tony award for Best Direction of a Play for the Broadway play, Eclipsed, which just so happened to be Nyong'o's Broadway debut.

Things are falling perfectly into place for Liesl, and it is no wonder why Noah's autobiography is a fitting match for Liesl's directorial film debut. We just can't wait until it gets here.