Jeremy Strong, Chris Chalk, Austin Hébert, Ephraim Sykes, Laz Alonso, Nathan Davis Jr., Malcolm David Kelley, Peyton Alex Smith and Leon Thomas III have been cast in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Untitled Detroit Project.” They join the previously announced John Boyega, John Krasinski, Jason Mitchell, Anthony Mackie, Will Poulter, Jacob Latimore, Joseph David-Jones, Algee Smith, Ben O’Toole, Jack Reynor, Kaitlyn Dever, and Hannah Murray. Bigelow is directing the crime drama from an original screenplay by Mark Boal. Bigelow is producing with Boal, Annapurna’s Megan Ellison and Matthew Budman, and Colin Wilson, with Greg Shapiro executive producing.

The feature, Oscar-winning director Bigelow’s tenth as a director, is currently in production. The film is being financed and produced by Annapurna Pictures.

Although details about the Detroit project are not being revealed at this time, it is a crime drama set against the backdrop of Detroit’s devastating riots that took place over five haunting summer days in 1967. The film explores systemic racism in urban Detroit. Although no studio is yet attached, a release date is being targeted for 2017, the 50th anniversary of the riots.

Bigelow is a two time Oscar winner for producing and directing “The Hurt Locker.” Boal is a two time Oscar-winner for producing and writing “The Hurt Locker.” Bigelow, Boal and Ellison’s previous collaboration, “Zero Dark Thirty,” received five Oscar nominations including best picture and best screenplay.

Detroit Race Riots

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