Nikita pearl waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain. Early in disney s new movie queen of katwe in theaters sept. Starring david oyelowo, lupita nyongo, and madina nalwanga, the film depicts the life of phiona mutesi, a girl living in katwe, a slum of kampala, the capital of uganda. Disney s 2016 film queen of katwe featured nikita pearl waligwa, who died on saturday. A ugandan girls life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing talent for chess in this celebration of the human spirit.
Waligwa starred in the 2016 disney film queen of katwe, a biographical film about ugandan chess player phiona mutesi, who came from the slums to be one of the top players in the world. In this celebration of the human spirit, a ugandan girls life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing talent for chess. Disney presents queen of katwe, a movie based on a vibrant true story starring lupita nyongo and david oyelowo. The queen, the girl explains, is the most powerful piece on the board. Never seen in the movie are any games ending with a draw, which in chess is. Queen of katwe is a 2016 american biographical drama feature film directed by mira nair and written by william wheeler.
A ugandan teen actress from the 2016 disney movie queen of katwe, has died fifteenyearold nikita pearl waligwa died on saturday, after suffering from a brain tumor, according to the school she. Lupita nyongo and david oyelowo star in a movie about lifeand chess. A ugandan girls life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing talent for chess, in this celebration of the human spirit. A feelgood chess movie keeps sentimentality in check. Watch the trailer for queen of katwe starring lupita nyongo, directed by mira nair. Queen of katwe official trailer disney india video. Nikita pearl waligwa, the young star of the 2016 disney film queen of katwe, has died, according to multiple outlets.
With madina nalwanga, david oyelowo, lupita nyongo, martin kabanza. Nikita pearl waligwa, the young ugandan newcomer who starred in queen of katwe, the 2016 disney film about a chess champions coming. A ugandan girls life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing. The official trailer of the disney queen of katwe has been released. Queen of katwe is a feelgood movie of uncommon smarts and.
The child actress in the 2016 disney film about a ugandan chess prodigy had a brain tumour. Queen of katwe, a disney family production which tells the true story of the ugandan teenage chess champion phiona mutesi, has the rare distinction of being a. Disney s queen of katwe is the vibrant true story of phiona mutesi madina nalwanga, a young girl from the slum of katwe in kampala, uganda. The disney queen of katwe movie understandably tones down the realities of life in the slums, details that can be found in tim crothers nonfiction book of the same name, on which the movie is based. Queen of katwe is a feelgood movie of uncommon smarts and passion, and outstanding performances by lupita nyongo and david oyelowo help to. Produced by walt disney pictures and espn films, queen of katwe was first screened at the 2016 toronto international film festival.
Nair described queen of katwe as a radical film for disney in many ways it has beauty and barbarity sidebyside. Nikita pearl waligwa died saturday following a brain tumor. Queen of katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced. The inside story behind disneys radical queen of katwe. An actress who starred in the queen of katwe, a disney film about a chess prodigy from a ugandan slum, has died aged 15, ugandan media report. Steven spielberg surprises the goonies reunion with a. Directed by mira nair, written by william wheeler and coproduced by walt disney pictures and espn films, the film is an adaptation of the novel the queen of katwe. A brand new poster for the film has been released, along with a tease for a fulllength trailer, debuting tomorrow. The subject of dozens of media stories and a book, the queen of katwe, which is soon to be made into a disney movie, phiona is an inspiration to millions, and especially to girls in a nation where girls are particularly marginalized. Though theyve only been at nu a short time, theyve already made a significant impact. Nikita pearl waligwa, disney actress who appeared in. Disney youtube a ugandan student who played a memorable role in a 2016 disney. And what makes the movie so wonderful is exemplified by. Queen of katwe was a major outlier on disney s marvel, star wars, and c.
It is a very disney movie in that it centers around a family. A story of life, chess, and one extraordinary girls dream of becoming a grandmaster by tim crothers, which is an biography of phiona mutesi, a ugandan girl who rose from a. Nikita pearl waligwa, the young ugandan newcomer who starred in queen of katwe, the 2016 disney film about a chess champions coming of age, has died of a brain tumor. Living in katwe, a slum in kampala, uganda, is a constant struggle for 10yearold phiona, her mother nakku.
It was then given a limited release in the united states on. Nikita pearl waligwa, who was known for her role in the 2016 disney movie queen of katwe, died at the age of 15 due to a brain tumor. Disney s ragstoriches tale of a ugandan chess champion will leave you with a lump in your throat. The film stars golden globe nominee david oyelowo selma. Queen of katwe a disney film about a ugandan girl who becomes a chess champion hits familiar beats but evinces a nuanced understanding of. The inside story behind disneys radical queen of katwe wired. It is a very disney movie in that it centers around a family and has a happy ending. Nyongo spoke passionately about filming in uganda saying, first of all, i am from east africa. Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor prior to her death. But it is a very undisney story in that it unblinkingly examines the poverty, violence, and racism its protagonists face every day. Queen of katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, coming soon to cinemas. Queen of katwe vs true story of phiona mutesi, robert katende. Disney s queen of katwe, which will premiere at the toronto international film festival before opening in limited release on september 23 and wide release on september 30, is the kind of feel good, inspirational true sports story that disney does so well it will definitely remind you of such greats as mcfarland, usa and cool runnings.
Queen of katwe is a heavyhanded variation of the disney inspirational sports drama formula, but a sincere and wellmeaning one too queen of katwe tells the true story of phiona mutesi madina nalwanga who as a young girl grew up in katwe, an impoverished region of kampala, ugandas capital city. Queen of katwe official trailer disneys queen of katwe. These two phenomenal chess players have also been preparing to become chess grand masters under the auspices of chess4life in kirkland. Phiona mutesi and her teammate benjamin mukumbya, both featured in the disney movie, queen of katwe, began their university studies at northwest university this fall. Queen of katwe 2016 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Queen of katwe is the true story of phiona mutesi, a ugandan chess prodigy who overcame all odds to become a chess master, adapted from the espn biography, the queen of.
Lupita nyongo in disney s story of chess champ david oyelowo, left, and madina nalwanga work to master the game in queen of katwe. Nikita pearl waligwa, a ugandan child actress who starred in a disney movie on the extraordinary life of a local chess prodigy, has died at the age of. Disney presents queen of katwe, a movie based on a vibrant true story starring lupita nyongo and david oyelowo, and directed by mira nair. The story of king seretse khama of botswana and how his loving but controversial marriage to a british white. Queen of katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the. Walt disneys queen of katwe 2016 follows a familiar story formula and at. Disney presents queen of katwe, a movie based on a vibrant true story starring lupita nyong o and david oyelowo, and directed by mira nair.
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