Cynthia Erivo cast in 'Widows'

Cynthia Erivo, who won a Tony Award for her performance in "The Color Purple" on Broadway, has joined Viola Davis in New Regency's heist thriller "Widows", directed by Steve McQueen.
The 29-year-old actress initially thought it was a "joke" when McQueen offered her the role of Belle in his upcoming big-screen adaptation of Linda La Plante's 1983 TV miniseries, reported Variety.
"I said I'd love to play the role -- fantastic! But can he (McQueen) see the show, so I know that it's not, like, a joke! To be offered a role, without having to read for it, is just crazy! And awesome," Cynthia said.

The actress will depart the Broadway production on her 30th birthday, January 8, and begin shooting with Davis in Chicago soon afterwards.
"Gone Girl" writer Gillian Flynn is writing the script for "Widows", which is set in Chicago, rather than the original London, but is said to be very respectful of the original series.