Vanessa Bell Calloway (Coming To America, Shameless) has come aboard the Harriet Tubman biopic from Focus Features. Directed by Eve’s Bayou helmer Kasi Lemmons, the film will be led by Tony winner Cynthia Erivo in the titular role.

Lemmons co-wrote with the screenplay with Gregory Allen Howard. It follows Tubman on her escape from slavery and subsequent missions to free dozens of slaves through the Underground Railroad in the face of growing pre-Civil War adversity.

Filming is slated to begin filming this October in Virginia.

The Princess Diaries and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants producer Debra Martin Chase is producing the project via her Martin Chase Productions banner, with Daniela Taplin Lundberg (Beasts of No Nation) of Stay Gold Features, and Howard. Josh McLaughlin will oversee the production for the studio.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures International will distribute the film worldwide