(Producer Will Packer tells #theGrioLIVE’s Natasha Alford and Gerren Keith Gaynor about this new film “Warrior Queen”)
Powerhouse Hollywood producer Will Packer’s newest project will show that black history didn’t start with slavery.
NBC Universal has picked up Warrior Queen, a true story centered on a young African queen in ancient Egypt named Amanirenas. Queen Amanirenas ruled over the Kush Kingdom of Nubia, one of the wealthiest kingdoms in ancient Africa.
Packer is currently working on the script with writer Mark Rosenthal and is eager to produce this compelling story.
“It’s a project that I’m so proud of. It’s a passion project of mine,” says Packer in an interview on #TheGrioLive.
“She was the Queen of Kush… Ancient Egypt,” Packer said of the project. “This was one of the richest kingdoms ever, and the Roman empire, which at that time was conquering everybody, came to conquer this land, pillage it, take the gold, people as slaves, and take the women. Queen Amanirenas stood up — this sister fought off the Roman Empire. And they had to surrender.”
Packer described Amanirenas as a “tremendous warrior” and says the story is “epic.”
Part of the inspiration for the film came as Packer was wrapping up production on the Roots remake when people approached him with a request.
“People said, ‘We would love to hear stories of when we were kings and queens; we would love to hear stories pre-slavery. We would love to hear stories of black people and their greatness.’ And I took that to heart.”
Packer started his film career as an undergraduate engineering student at FAMU, producing the movie “Chocolate City” for $20,000 and hustling so hard that Blockbuster put it on their shelves.
Now, as a leading TV and film producer whose had eight of his films open up No. 1 in the box office (Ride Along 2, No Good Deed, Think Like a Man Too, Ride Along, Think Like a Man, Takers, Obsessed and Stomp the Yard), Packer realizes he is in a unique position to produce quality, in-depth media.
“While I’m in that position, I have to take advantage of it,” says Packer. “There is nothing wrong with the Ride Along’s and Girl’s Trips, but I also have to take that opportunity to tell a story like Warrior Queen, which I’m hoping my daughters will see and go, ‘WOW. She looks like me and she’s great.’”
Check out the Teaser Trailer for ‘Girls Trip’ below:
Watch the full interview with Will Packer below.