Taraji P. Henson Champions Darlene Love Documentary at TIFF

Taraji P. Henson is putting her weight behind Darlene Love's story — and she may play her next.

Henson, who earned an Academy Award nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, is executive producer of the documentary Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been, directed by Barry Avrich, and she discussed the film in Deadline's TIFF Studio ahead of its world premiere. Henson said she is up for playing Love in a potential feature adaptation of her life.

The festival listed a first screening for Monday, Sept. 14 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The film is programmed in TIFF Docs, the festival's strand for non-fiction cinema, and TIFF lists it as a Canadian film.

For newcomers, Love is a voice many will know even if the name is new. Now in her eighties, she started singing in a church choir before recording "He's a Rebel" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", according to TIFF. She later reached a second audience as Trish Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon movies.

The documentary traces that long career. Bruce Springsteen, Cher and Dionne Warwick appear in the film. Avrich directs as well as produces alongside Mark Selby, while Henson serves as executive producer, a senior backing role that is usually creative and financial rather than day-to-day.

There is business to do in Toronto. Submarine Entertainment is the sales agent, the company hired to sell distribution rights to buyers, Deadline reported. Love, Henson and Avrich all appeared at the Deadline Studio during the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and also spoke to Variety about the project in Toronto.

What makes this stand out is the double track. The documentary introduces Love's music history to a festival crowd. A separate feature idea keeps the door open for Henson to step into the story herself.