Harriet Tubman film in the works

A movie about iconic abolitionist Harriet Tubman is in development from "Homeland" director Seith Mann.

The project has a working title of "Harriet," reports deadline.com.

Tubman was born into slavery, escaped in 1849 and made more than a dozen missions to rescue about 70 slaves though the Underground Railroad. She served as a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War and campaigned for women's suffrage.

The US Treasury announced last month that Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill in 2020.

Mann will direct from a script by Gregory Allen Howard. Production is expected to begin in early 2017 with Macro and New Balloon co-financing.

Producers are Debra Martin Chase ("The Princess Diaries"), Gregory Allen Howard ("Remember the Titans"), Macro founder/CEO Charles D. King, "Beasts of No Nation" producer Daniela Taplin Lundberg and Macro's production president Kim Roth.

Executive producers are New Balloon's Elizabeth Koch and Kristina Kendall and Macro's Poppy Hanks and Bill Benenson. Co-producers are Kristen Konvitz and Charles Pugliese.

--IANS

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