Regina King will tell the tale of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress.

The Oscar-winning actress will portray the political icon in the upcoming Netflix biopic “Shirley.” Set to debut on March 22, the film chronicles Chisholm’s trail-braking run for president of the United States.

Born in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant parents from Guyana and Barbados, Chisholm initially worked as an educator before joining political and civil rights organizations including the League of Women Voters, the Urban League, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1968, she became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, where she represented New York’s 12th congressional district from 1969 to 1983. In 1971, Chisholm became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. A year later, she became the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for President of the United States.

Written and directed by John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), the film also stars Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Reina King, and Christina Jackson. The biopic also features Terrence Howard and Alabama native André Holland, who will portray minister and civil rights activist Walter Fauntroy.

Regina King and her sister Reina have worked for nearly 15 years to bring the story of Shirley Chislom to life. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Regina King talked about the frustration of having to wait so long to bring the film to fruition. But ultimately, releasing the film in 2024– an election year– turned out to be destiny.

“As a team, we felt that is probably the best way we could possibly honor Shirley,” said King. “To release her in a space that she created for herself.”