Jason Mitchell cast in Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit Riots drama

Image from The Wrap

By Darian Scalamoni

            Straight Outta Compton was one of my favorite films of last year and unfortunately, it wasn’t nominated for any Academy Awards. One reason why I was upset by this was because Jason Mitchell’s performance as gangster rapper and member of NWA, Eazy-E was one of the best of the year. Now, Variety is reporting that the actor will get more mainstream attention as he’s being cast in Kathryn Bigelow’s (Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker) untitled film about the Detroit Riots in 1967.

            The film already boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes John Boyega, Anthony Mackie, Will Poulter and Jack Reynor. Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker) penned the script for the crime/drama that is currently filming. The film is set against the backdrop of Detroit’s massacre that included riots across the city in 1967.

            The currently untitled film is set to be released at some point in 2017 which will mark the 50^th anniversary of the awful events that took place in Michigan. Mitchell was most recently seen in the comedy Keanu and is set to star in Kong: Skull Island next year alongside Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston as well as Mudbound also starring Carey Mulligan and Jason Clarke.