John Boyega joins Kathryn Bigelow’s new drama

john boyega baftas

by James White |
Published on
john boyega baftas

All things considered, John Boyega is having quite the moment. And thanks to his career-boosting role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he's being considered for more projects with great potential. Case in point? Kathryn Bigelow has cast him in her new, untitled drama.

Bigelow has been developing several projects since working on Zero Dark Thirty and now this new, original idea has leapt to the front of the queue. Little is known about the plot, save that it's set against the backdrop of destructive riots that spread across the city of Detroit in 1967, the result of pent-up rage at racism and police raids.

The new film reunites Bigelow with writer Mark Boal, and it has the backing of Annapurna Pictures, which will be looking to find a distribution home for the eventual film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bigelow intends to gather an ensemble cast before filming in the summer and aiming for a 2017 release to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the riots themselves.

This latest gig comes on the heels of Boyega working on tech thriller The Circle and his casting in Pacific Rim 2, which he's also working on as a producer. Oh, and he's been busy filming Star Wars: Episode VIII, which will be out on December 15, 2017.

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