Whoopi Goldberg Will Play Emmett Till’s Grandmother in New Film “Till”

Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg joins the cast of new movie Till as Emmett Till’s grandmother Alma Carthan.

 The new movie, which is set to begin production in Atlanta in September, will be based on the efforts Emmett Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, gave in retrieving justice for her son.

In 1955, America was a country plagued with racial injustices and at the age of 14, Emmett Till became a victim of a racial hate crime as he was killed in Mississippi by a white mob. 

The Orion Picture and historical drama directed by Chinonye Chukwu will follow Emmett’s mom, Mamie, as she fights for her son’s justice. The movie will also show in, chronological order, the events that led to her decision to have an open-casket funeral, sparking the Civil Rights movement.

Variety reported that Goldberg has joined the cast of Till, along with Danielle Deadwyler. While Goldberg will play the role of the grandmother, Deadwyler will portray, the mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. 

Goldberg has also agreed to produce the film, alongside Keith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli, Thomas K. Levine, Michael JP Reilly, and Frederick Zollo. 

Goldberg said in a statement,

“We have waited a very long time to bring this historically necessary important film to people. And as we watch the repression of American History when it comes to people of color it makes it even that more important. I couldn’t be with better people: Fred, Barbara, Chinonye, Keith, Michael, and Danielle.”

Goldberg is the only Black woman to have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. The multi-talented entertainer has long strived to bring diversity to the industry and is currently writing a script for a superhero film featuring an older Black woman.