Viola Davis to star in Harriet Tubman's TV biopic

Los Angeles: 'The Help' star Viola Davis is all set to star in an HBO biopic of Harriet Tubman, who helped hundreds of slaves to escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

The untitled movie is based on the book "Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman: Portrait of an American Hero" by Kate Clifford Larson, reported Variety.

Davis is executive producing with her partner and husband, Julius Tennon and others.

The movie is in the early development stage and has not been given the go-ahead for production. But it's eyed for filming during Davis' break from "How to Get Away With Murder" next year,

Tubman who escaped from slavery in Maryland in 1849 organized a network of safe houses to help her relatives. She eventually helped hundreds of slaves to secure their freedom and became the most famous "conductor" on the network.