Viola Davis in the New G20
After years of dominating dramatic roles, Viola Davis is stepping into a new light as an action star. In G20, Davis stars as President Danielle Sutton, a former military vet turned commander-in-chief.
Inspired by Legends
She must fight to save world leaders and her family after terrorists take over a global summit in Cape Town. “I wanted to be Indiana Jones,” Davis stated. “I wanted to be the hero in the story.”
The action-filled thriller, directed by Patricia Riggen, allowed Davis to channel icons like Sigourney Weaver in Alien and Bruce Willis in Die Hard. When she first received the script in 2015, she “couldn’t believe” the filmmakers saw her as the lead. “I am seeing myself way more expansively now,” she mentioned. “I wanted to put this out in the world for my daughter.”
Starring alongside Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, and Christopher Farrar as her onscreen family. Davis also produced the film with her husband, Julius Tennon. And she didn’t shy away from the stunts. “I did almost all of it, believe it or not. I’m a masochist,” she stated. A fight scene in a kitchen brought out her inner child. “Maybe it’s the frying pan and knocking someone over the head.” “Little Viola had the most fun.”
New poster for the action thriller, ‘G20.’
— Black Film Alerts (@BlackFilmAlerts) April 10, 2025
The film stars Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Christopher Farrar, Anthony Starr, and Ramon Rodriguez.
: Now streaming on Prime Video pic.twitter.com/vCovneCy6V
Leading with Your Heart
Beyond the action, Davis says portraying a leader requires emotional depth. “You are the one who has to jump through the plate of glass first,” she explained. “How do you save the world and then save your children and your husband when you are saturated with fear?”
Though she isn’t planning a sequel for herself, Davis teases the idea of passing the torch. “Maybe now Serena is the president, and she’s in danger.” As for her future? “I’ll be riding into the sunset on a horse with some French fries,” she stated.
G20 premieres on April 10 on Prime Video.
