Exclusive: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor talks Ava DuVernay's Origin
Hitting theaters on Jan. 19 after a one-week limited run back in December 2023 is Ava DuVernay’s Origin, inspired by the New York Times best-seller “Caste” and starring Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard”). The film explores the mystery of history, the wonders of romance and a fight for our future.
Origin, directed by DuVernay from a screenplay she co-wrote with Isabel Wilkerson, is an adaptation of Wilkerson’s seminal, Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
While investigating the global phenomenon of caste and its dark influence on society, a journalist faces unfathomable loss and uncovers the beauty of love and human resilience.
The film stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Connie Nielsen, Niecy Nash-Betts, Audra McDonald, Vera Farmiga, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Finn Wittrock, Myles Frost, Victoria Pedretti, Isha Blaaker, Donna Mills, Leonardo Ham, and Gisssette Valentin.
The film was produced by Ava DuVernay and Paul Garnes. Spencer Averick is the cinematographer with Kris Bowers as the composer.
For Ellis-Taylor, the film represents her first leading role that will be shown in theaters. A veteran of many films, which includes Men of Honor, Undercover Brother, Ray, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, The Taking of Pelham 123, The Help, The Birth of a Nation, and If Beale Street Could Talk, the Mississippi raised actress has had her share of TV credits as well. Some of those projects include The Practice, True Blood, and The Mentalist. She also appeared in several television films, such as Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, Abducted: The Carlina White Story, and The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.
For her portrayal of Oracene Price in the sports drama King Richard (2021), she was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Ellis-Taylor as she talked about her role in Origin and working with Ms. DuVernay.
