Meet Jénel Stevens the celebrated fight choreographer, stunt double for Viola Davis, and member of the Dora Milaje in Black Panther!
Followed by a screening of The Woman King. Learn about the film business, and enjoy a great film!
About the Film
The Woman King is a 2022 American historical action drama film about the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in the 1820s, the film stars Viola Davis as a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies. It is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and written by Dana Stevens, based on a story she wrote with Maria Bello. The film also stars Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and John Boyega.
About Jénel Stevens
Jénel Stevens is an established stunt performer, fight choreographer, and actor best known for her involvement in feature films including Woman King, Black Panther and Breaking In, as well as TV shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Ms. Marvel, and Blindspot. T
hroughout her career, she has acted as a stunt double for internationally-recognized artists, including Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union, Danai Gurira and Viola Davis. Her most recent work to debut includes She-Hulk, where Jénel served as Jameela Jamil’s stunt double, and The Woman King, with Jénel in the roles of fight choreographer and Viola Davis’s stunt double.
She is also the fight coordinator for the upcoming spinoff The Walking Dead: Summit, who Jénel previously doubled for on Black Panther.
She has pioneered an extraordinary career defined by a singular focus and multi-disciplined athletic prowess that have paved the way to becoming one of the most successful Black stunt women and fight choreographers in the United States, even named by The Hollywood Reporter as Stunt Person of the Year in 2022.
Jénel was recognized with SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture for Black Panther and Avengers: End Game. She received five additional SAG Award nominations for The Woman King, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Joker, Avengers: Infinity War, and Luke Cage.
This year, Jénel is pivoting towards more on-camera roles, playing one of the Shadows in Lionsgate’s upcoming blockbuster, Shadow Force.
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