George Lucas’ first post-‘Star Wars’ project, “Red Tails,” which centers on African American fighter pilots in WWII, has finished casting and is set for production. Note: Lucas is just producing as it’s his idea. The script was written by John Ridley (who penned “Three Kings,” though its been said David O. Russell rewrote the whole thing himself) and the picture is being directed by Anthony Hemingway (“The Wire,” “Battlestar Galactica”).
Initial reports that said Terrence Howard, R&B singer NeYo, Andre Royo (from “The Wire”), Nate Parker (from “The Great Debaters”) and British actor David Oyelowo, were being eyed for the film have proved to be correct and all these actors have signed on (though Barry Pepper, also originally mentioned, has not).
Joining them are Cuba Gooding Jr., Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Cliff Smith aka Method Man (“The Wire)” Tristan Wilds (“The Wire,” who signed on to the cast a few weeks ago), Kevin Phillips (Pride), Rick Otto (“The Wire”), Lee Tergesen (Monster), Andre Royo (“Heroes”), Elijah Kelley (Hairspray), Marcus T. Paulk (Take the Lead), Leslie Odom Jr. (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Michael B. Jordan (“The Wire”), singer Jazmine Sullivan, Edwina Finley (“Law and Order”), Daniela Ruah (Midnight Passion) and Stacie Davis (“The Wire”).
It looks like a lot of the great African American talent on David Simon’s “The Wire” has finally been noticed. Principal photography will begin in Europe soon. Here’s the press release copied and pasted.
“I’ve been wanting to do ‘Red Tails’ for 20 years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots,” Lucas said in a press release. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era. And our top-notch cast will really make this story special.”