‘The Water Dancer’: Brad Pitt And Oprah Winfrey Team For Adaptation Of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Historical Novel

While they don’t seem to have much that links them, Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey have one thing in common. They have become two of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, rather quietly, and previously worked together on Ava DuVernay’s Selma. Now they’re teaming up once again for another prestige drama, an adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates novel The Water Dancer.

THR reports Pitt and Winfrey will join with MGM to produce The Water Dancer, a historical fantasy about Hiram Walker, a man born into slavery in the pre-Civil War south. He possesses photographic memory but has no recollection of his mother. After an accident, he develops the ability to teleport long distances via waterways, a power he uses as part of the Underground Railroad.

“I’m honored to be working with Harpo, Plan B and my old friend Kamilah Forbes,” stated Coates. “We all believe that MGM is the best home for this adaptation and look forward to bringing it to life.”

Through his Plan B production banner Pitt has produced acclaimed films such as Vice, 12 Years a Slave, and Moonlight. Through Harpo Films, Oprah has produced The Great Debaters, Precious, and the upcoming film The Water Man. Together, along with Coates’ writing, there’s every chance The Water Dancer enters the awards race whenever it opens.

Travis Hopson
Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.