The vivid first trailer for Disney’s true-life story “Queen of Katwe” is here, hitting the web on Tuesday.
Aside from featuring the familiar faces of Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, the trailer is filled with expressive first-timers including Madina Nalwanga, who plays Phiona Mutesi in the film.
The colorful trailer first opens with a quote from Liberian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on a black background: “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.”
Nyong’o plays Harriet Mutesi, mother of a young Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Oyelowo plays Robert Katende, a missionary who teaches local children how to play chess. After seeing Phiona’s potential Katende mentors her to become a chess world champion, overcoming her impoverished background.
“Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place you belong. You belong where you believe you belong,” says Katende to a young Phiona Mutesi.
Nyong’o recently spoke about Ugandan culture, telling Entertainment Weekly, “There is an ease in the Ugandan demeanor that is very welcoming. I love the melody of the accent, the food, the music and the people’s inherent style. There was a familiarity with my home country being right next door but also complete surprise in what was so different.”
“There is a resilience of spirit in Uganda. The slum of Katwe is a very difficult place to live, but you see these people living there with dignity. To go there and to have that environment to work from really did give life and meaning to our work. It was research, obstacle and inspiration,” she added.
Nyong’o is currently performing her Tony Award-nominated role in “Eclipsed” and last lended her voice for the role of Raksha in “The Jungle Book.” Oyelowo last starred in this year’s “Nina” with Zoe Saldana.
Disney’s “Queen of Katwe” hits theaters with a limited release on Sept. 23.
