Viola Davis to Produce Adaptation of Afro-Fantasy Graphic Novel The Untamed

The EGOT winner is stepping back into the fantasy world — this time behind the camera.

Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, are bringing Afro-fantasy graphic novel The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer to the big screen through their company, JuVee Productions.

The couple will produce alongside Homeworld Entertainment and Stranger Comics, the indie publisher behind the fantasy universe of Asunda.

Created by writer Sebastian A. Jones, The Untamed follows a mysterious figure known as The Stranger, who returns to a lawless town seeking vengeance after the murder of his wife and child. Bound by a dark pact, he has seven days to collect seven souls — or face devastating consequences. Along the way, he encounters Niobe, a young orphan whose presence may shift his path from revenge to redemption.

Jones, who has spent a decade building the Asunda universe, will outline the script and direct the adaptation. Since 2015, the indie franchise has grown through grassroots support, including multiple successful Kickstarter campaigns that have collectively raised more than $600,000. The richly layered world blends medieval European aesthetics with African history and cultural influence.

For Davis, the project carries special meaning. She previously wrote the foreword for Jones’ 2017 graphic novel Niobe: She Is Life, which introduced readers more deeply to the character.

“When Sebastian shared this incredible narrative with us over ten years ago, we knew the inclusive fantasy world of Asunda would resonate globally,” Davis and Tennon said in a joint statement. “We believe audiences are ready for a hero like Niobe — a powerful Black woman who storms the world.”

The project marks another major genre move for Davis, who is already known to comic-book fans for portraying Amanda Waller in DC projects including The Suicide Squad and the series Peacemaker. She most recently starred in the Amazon MGM action thriller G20, which she also produced.

With The Untamed, Davis continues expanding the landscape of fantasy storytelling. This time, spotlighting a world where Black heroes stand at the center of epic adventure.