Amandla Stenberg may have few acting credits to her name, but thanks to her insightful, critical voice beyond her years, and honest freshness, everyone either wants to work with her or be her best friend.
Even Amandla’s on a similar wavelength. In our Fashion Issue, she told us she dreams of getting her pals “Zendaya, Yara Shahidi from Black-ish, and Willow” together for one incredible film. “I think it would be so cool if we could all be in one movie together and form a #blackgirlmagic squad. It would be really awesome!”
That moment might come soon, given Amandla’s just been cast in a film adaptation of the popular young adult novel The Hate U Give. The book—penned by first-time writer Angela Thomas—is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, and tells the story of a 16 year old girl who witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend. It takes its name from Tupac Shakur’s T.H.U.G. tattoo.
When it comes to the film adaptation, George Tillman Jr. is slated to direct and Audrey Wells will pen the script. There’s no word on other casting choices yet, but we’re sure Amandla is more than ready to tackle the role. Amandla confessed to i-D, “I went through a period when I totally rejected the black side of myself, I straightened my hair and tried to make myself more digestible, but recently I have realized that the black component of my identity is extremely, extremely important. It has completely changed who I am as a human being. I feel like now my identity has gone full circle.” We’ll be lining up to see The Hate U Give.
Credits
Photography Oliver Hadlee Pearch
Styling Emilie Kareh