Daughter of Viola Davis, Genesis Tennon, Set To Star In Angry Birds 2 Movie

Did we really need another reason to go see Angry Birds 2?

Just earlier this week, we reported that Hair Love, would be making its theatrical debut alongside the sequel to the blockbuster hit. Now we’re back with even more exciting news! Nine year old Genesis Tennon, daughter of Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, will be lending her voice to the film as Vivi, one of the little hatchlings. Davis announced it via Twitter saying she was “so proud of [her] baby Genesis.”

Davis, an Emmy Award winner, told Ellen DeGeneres that she was still a bit nervous for her daughter to jump into acting back in 2013. In 2014, the young star was cast in Get On Up alongside her mother, in the biopic on the life of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Davis said that when Genesis was just 3 years old, she had already learned set cues like “action” and would always play around with her imaginary friends and even offer acting advice. “Fortunately or unfortunately, I think the acting bug has already bit her,” Davis told DeGeneres. Then in 2015, Tennon went viral when she chose to forego the usual costumes for Halloween, deciding to go as her Mom instead, smiling from ear to ear as she held up a replica of an award. We could see then that she would be following in her Davis’ footsteps.

The Angry Birds Movie is about a group of aggressive yet hilarious birds who live on an island and devise schemes and plots to fight off their enemies. The flightless birds became a pop culture phenomenon about 10 years ago when they were first released as a video game. After massive deals for merchandise, stuffed animals and partnerships with corporations like Lego, developers brought the game to life in its first feature film in 2016. The movie was a massive success, raking in over $352 million. The sequel is expected to do even greater numbers, with an all star cast that includes Tennon, Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G.), Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live), and comedian Lil Rel Howery (Get Out).  

Baby girl Tennon has made it clear that she is ready for the spotlight. And we’ll be cheering her on, all the way. The Angry Birds Movie 2 is in theaters next week with Hair Love premiering right before it airs.