Zendaya to Produce and Star in "A White Lie." Thriller of Anita Hemmings, First Black Woman Vassar Graduate Passing As White to Attend

Sony’s TriStar Pictures has won the worldwide rights to the psychological thriller “A White Lie,” produced by and starring Zendaya as the first African-American woman to graduate from Vassar College.

The project is based on Karin Tanabe’s novel “The Gilded Years.” Hello Sunshine’s Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Levy Neustadter will produce the project with Zendaya. Monica Beletsky (“Fargo,” “The Leftovers”) is writing the script.

“The Gilded Years” told the true story of Anita Hemmings, a light-skinned, African-American woman who was the descendant of slaves and passed as white so she could attend Vassar during the 1890s. She’s pulled into the elite world, where she’s treated as a wealthy, educated white woman who finds romance with a moneyed Harvard student.

"Monica, Zendaya, Lauren, and Reese have developed a bold and original approach to Anita’s story that explores complex and timely themes in a way that is sure to thrill audiences,” said Hannah Minghella, president of TriStar Pictures.

Minghella and Nicole Brown will oversee the project for TriStar Pictures.

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