Forget the likes of *Interstellar, *The Martian, or Gravity. As far as space movies go, Hidden Figures is – quite literally – a bit more down-to-earth. Based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, it tells the true story of African-American mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, whose calculations were instrumental in sending the first American astronaut, John Glenn, to orbit the Earth in 1962. We’ve been given an exclusive new look at the film.
Taraji P. Henson plays Johnson, seen here taking notes from director Theodore Melfi, and she speaks reverently of the now 97-year-old scientist. “Today’s society would call Katherine a nerd or a geek,” Johnson told Empire. “But she’s a genius. Sometimes when you know a lot, you don’t say a lot.”
Working at a time of institutionalised racism in America, the three mathematicians struggled to be recognised for their extraordinary achievements. “It shocked me that there is never any mention of all these women who were part of the space programme,” says Octavia Spencer, who plays Vaughan. “One could be bitter about it. But I think bringing this story to life is much more powerful.”
Henson and Spencer lead up a cast that includes, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons. Hidden Figures blasts into US cinemas on January 13, ahead of a UK release date of February 24. Watch the brand new trailer, which arrived yesterday.